Biological Detection Systems for Electromagnetic Spectral Signatures

摘要

An interdisciplinary group of scientists was assembled to examine heat detection by biological systems with the goal of prototyping physical sensors based on the unique mechanisms found in nature. The focus of this research was heat detection systems of snakes and beetles. In conclusion, our evidence strongly supports the hypotheses that receptors in the pit organ of pit vipers are temperature receptors that are spectrally tuned based on the absorptive properties of the surrounding tissue and suggest that unique receptors with high sensitivity to low temperature stimulus are present in the pit membrane enabling this organ to exhibit a highly sensitive and unique response to thermal stimulus. Work is in progress in our laboratory to further elucidate the molecular and cellular basis of heating sensing capability of pit organ.