COATES, M.M.*; NILSSON, D-E; Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University; Lund University, Sweden: An eye for each reason: the multiple eye types of a box jellyfish, Tripedalia cystophora Like most jellyfish, box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) have small pit shaped ocelli. However, they also have camera-type eyes. Why does the box jellyfish have multiple eye types and […]

FRANK, TM; Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution: Adaptations in deep-sea crustaceans for vision in light-limited environments Animals that successfully use vision in the deep-sea environment possess some unusual adaptations to maximize their sensitivity in this very low light environment. In spite of their smaller size, deep-sea crustacean photoreceptors are approximately 80 times more sensitive than human […]

POSNER, M.; HORWITZ, J.; Ashland University; Univ. of California, Los Angeles: A Comparative View of Alpha Crystallin Chaperone Function in the Vertebrate Lens The small heat shock protein (sHSP) alpha crystallin contributes greatly to the refractive index of the vertebrate eye lens. Like other sHSP, both the alpha A and alpha B subunits also act […]

Meeting Abstract S7.3  Tuesday, Jan. 6  The Plant Cell Wall Acts as a Sophisticated Mechanical Device BURGERT, I*; FRATZL, P; Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany; Max-Planck-Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany ingo.burgert@mpikg.mpg.de Plants are hierarchically organised and possess remarkable mechanical properties. The unique performance of plant biomaterials is based on sustained optimization processes of […]

Meeting Abstract S7.9  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Structure and Properties of Mineralized Tissues: The Deformation and Fracture of Nacre from Mollusc Shells BARTHELAT, Francois; McGill University francois.barthelat@mcgill.ca For millions of years natural organisms have been incorporating minerals for structural purposes, mainly to achieve the stiffness required for mechanical support (bones), cutting and crushing aliments (teeth) or protection against […]

Meeting Abstract S7.4  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Nonlinear viscoelastic biomaterials: meaningful characterization and engineering inspiration EWOLDT, R.H.*; HOSOI, A.E.; MCKINLEY, G.H.; MIT, Cambridge, MA; MIT, Cambridge, MA; MIT, Cambridge, MA ewoldt@mit.edu Nonlinear mechanical properties play an important role in numerous biological functions. For example, the strain-stiffening of artery walls enables stability to inflation over a range of pressures […]

Meeting Abstract S7.10  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Nanotechnological Studies of Native and Regenerated Musculoskeletal Tissues ORTIZ, Christine; Massachusetts Institute of Technology cortiz@mit.edu Biological materials, such as musculoskeletal tissues, have developed amazingly complex, hierarchical, heterogeneous nanostructures over millions of years of evolution in order to function properly under the mechanical loads they experience in their environment. In this talk, […]

Meeting Abstract S7.5  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Multiple cross-linking mechanisms in molluscan adhesive gels SMITH, A. M.*; BLOOM, A.; GARCIA, S.; Ithaca College, NY; Ithaca College, NY; Ithaca College, NY asmith@ithaca.edu Some terrestrial slugs produce remarkably sticky and elastic gels as defensive secretions. Previous work on these gels has shown that metals play a central role in their […]

Meeting Abstract S7.12  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Micro-mechanics and material properties of the tessellated skeleton of cartilaginous fishes DEAN, MN*; YOUSSEFPOUR, H; EARTHMAN, J; GORB, S; SUMMERS, AP; UC Irvine; UCI; UCI; Max Planck Inst; UCI mdean@uci.edu The natural history of sharks seems paradoxical: their long lives and swimming styles demand cyclic loading cycles on cartilaginous skeletons that […]

Meeting Abstract S7.11  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Mechanical Regulation of Skeletal Healing MORGAN, EF*; SALISBURY PALOMARES, KT; MASON, ZD; LEONG, PL; HAYWARD, LNM; GLEASON, RE; BELLIN, D; Boston University efmorgan@bu.edu An intimate relationship exists among the structure, mechanical function, and mechanical environment of skeletal tissues. The ability of these tissueswhich include bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligamentto withstand the […]