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Bio-Inspired Silicon-Based Materials pp 1–18Cite as

Silicon in a Biological Environment

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Part of the book series: Advances in Silicon Science ((ADSS,volume 5))

Abstract

Given that silicon is one of the most abundant elements on the planet it is natural to be curious how this element interacts with biological systems. This chapter very briefly examines the role that silicon plays in the natural environment and how modern scientists have drawn inspiration from Nature in designing new methodologies and materials based on silicon.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    “The beast was made of silica! There must have been pure silicon in the sand, and it lived on that…It was silicon life!”.2

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Centre for Biotechnology, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, L2S 3A1, St. Catharines, ON, Canada

    Paul M. Zelisko

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    Paul M. Zelisko

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Zelisko, P. (2014). Silicon in a Biological Environment. In: Zelisko, P. (eds) Bio-Inspired Silicon-Based Materials. Advances in Silicon Science, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9439-8_1

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