A well-written article on collagen, why it’s important, and how scientists have finally synthesized it in long strands is over on Biosingularity. It’s well worth a read.

Biosingularity » Blog Archive » Scientists find a way to make human collagen

The Wisconsin team discovered a way to make the long, slender collagen molecules, in essence, by having the protein assemble itself. What was required, Raines explains, was a way to give the collagen snippets that scientists could easily make a way to “self assemble” into the long, thin fibers of native collagen. The Wisconsin team was able to modify the ends of the snippets so they could fit together and stick to form long collagen fibers.

Darwin’s theory of evolution via natural selection (which has since been found to be fact) revolutionized biology. That fact that is name is practically reviled by creationists and that his work is so misunderstood among the general public is a tragedy.

Darwin’s accomplishments are on the order of those of Newton, Galileo, Euler, and maybe even Einstein. Sunday is the day to celebrate it.

Darwin Day Celebration

Darwin’s 200th Birthday will occur on February 12, 2009; it will also be the 150th Anniversary of the publication of his famous book On The Origin of Species. So, together we have time to evolve a truly International Celebration to show our appreciation for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity.