Proteins have the capability of memorizing conformation, specific molecular recognition, coordination, storage and release, catalysis, and motions. One of the most promising yet challenging areas for research in ma-te-rials science is developing synthetic polymers with the functions observed in proteins. Recent theoretical and experimental development indicate that such synthesis should indeed be possible without using genetic information.

References:

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2. M. Annaka and T. Tanaka, "Multiple Phases of Polymer Gels," Nature 355, 430-432 (1992).

3. V.S. Pande, A. Yu. Grosberg and T. Tanaka, "Thermodynamic Procedure to Synthesize Heteropolymers that can Renature to Recognize a Given Target Molecule," Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 91, 12976-12979 (1994).