Scientists breakthrough on enzymatic synthesis, bio-based evolution of a semiconductor

BioBased Digest
Tom Saidak
June 19, 2012

In California, UC Santa Barbara scientists have, for the first time, used genetic engineering and molecular evolution to develop the enzymatic synthesis of a semiconductor.

Using silicateins, proteins responsible for the formation of silica skeletons in marine sponges, the researchers were able to generate new mineral architectures by directing the evolution of these enzymes.

With the creation of a silicatein gene pool, the scientists were able to create a multitude of silicateins, and then select for the ones with desired properties. The scientists noted that the process could potentially work with a variety of metals, to evolve different types of materials. By changing the laboratory-controlled environments in which directed evolution occurs, it will be possible to evolve materials with specific capacities, like high performance in an evolved solar cell, for example.

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