Intestines absorb glucose fast: hummingbird

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Intestines of hummingbirds rapidly take up glucose by using glucose transporters in intestinal mucosa.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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	Capture, absorb, or filter >
	Chemical entities

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Biological fuel cell capture of glucose.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Intestinal transit time is about 15 minutes, during which time, using a high density of glucose transporters in the intestinal mucosa, some 99% of ingested glucose is absorbed." (Fowler and Miller 2003: 235)

About the inspiring organism

Trochilidae
Trochilidae

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

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Biological fuel cell capture of glucose.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Energy

References

Fowler, ME; Miller, RE. 2003. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co.

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Comments

Thanks to Duarte Miguel Prazeres for finding and uploading this photo.

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