Living Things as the Solution Bionics, or Hybrid Systems

1 Living Things as the Solution (Bionics, or Hybrid Systems) 

The march of invention has clothed mankind with powers of which a century ago the boldest imagination could not have dreamt. 

Hybrid systems is the modern term used to describe a system that incorporates a biological unit as an essential part of a nonbiological design, and thus is essaitially equivalent to the older bionics descriptor. 

Nowhere has this means to utilize Uving systems been more enthusiastically developed than in the area of environmental applications. Of these, tnoranediation is a major application. 

FIGURE 8.2.1 A special variety of alfalfa was used to phytoremediate a fertilizer spill in North Dakota. (From Russelle, M.P., Am. Sci., 89, 252, 2001. With permission.) 

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