Ligament used to reopen shells: bivalve mollusks

1 of 1 Giant clam / derrekkeats / License

A ligament in bivalve mollusks can reopen closed shells due to the presence of abductin, an elastic protein.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Nanosprings that mimic abductin, replacement for some applications for industrial rubber, microactuators.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Another protein rubber is abductin found in the shell-opening ligaments of bivalve mollusks. One or two adductor muscles hold the two halfshells or valves of a bivalve closed (the edible part of a scallop is one of these muscles). Closing compresses the ligament, so its elastic resiliency can reopen the shell if the muscles relax. Interestingly, scallops, which swim by repeatedly clapping their valves together, recover a greater fraction of the work done on their abductin than do clams and other more sedentary forms." (Vogel 2003:304)

About the inspiring organism

Bivalvia
Bivalvia

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Nanosprings that mimic abductin, replacement for some applications for industrial rubber, microactuators.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Nanotechnology, materials science

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Ligament used to reopen shells: bivalve mollusks

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