Bacteria make strongest superglue, according to reports in news@nature 10 April 2006. A banana shaped bacterium named Caulobacter crescentus has been found to make the strongest adhesive ever found in the natural or man-made world. The bacterium is extremely common – it rapidly colonises any wet surface, from boat hulls to medical catheters. Once attached it is extremely difficult to shift, even by high pressure water jets. A team of physicists studied the strength of the glue used to attach itself, by working out how much force was required to detach the bacterium from its mooring – about 70 Newtons per square millimetre of force. Most commercial superglues can be disrupted by 25 Newtons per square millimetre. Because the bacterial glue works well on wet surfaces, scientists are hoping to develop it into a surgical adhesive. They are not sure whether this is best done by culturing the bacteria or studying the biochemistry of the glue.
Editorial Comment: Manufacturing and using this glue will take intelligent scientists and chemical engineers, who understand chemistry. Leaving it to chance random processes will not produce anything useful. This is good evidence the bacterium has better and stronger glue only because it was designed and made by an intelligent Creator, who knows more about chemistry than any earthbound human chemist. In fact, He made the glue without having to copy it. (Ref. biomimmicry, bio-engineering, microbiology)
10th May 2006