California Sea Grant College Program

We recently discovered the molecular mechanism by which a common California marine sponge synthesizes the fiberglass-like structures that form the internal skeleton of this simple marine animal. Our goals are: (1) to harness the proteins and molecular mechanisms that control this synthesis to make valuable semiconductors inexpensively under environmentally friendly conditions; and (2) to use this new approach to develop, low-cost, high-efficiency solar energy converters and other practical electronic applications. Training of students in the unique interdisciplinary approach of this project, combining new developments in biotechnology, advanced instrumentation, and materials engineering to produce advanced high-performance materials, also is a major objective of our project.