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Updated: Mar 13, 2026

A Micropatterning Assay for Measuring Cell Chirality
Published on: March 11, 2022
The electron's spin and molecular chirality - how are they related and how do they affect life processes?
Karen Michaeli1, Nirit Kantor-Uriel2, Ron Naaman2
1Department of Condensed Matter Physics, Weizmann Institute, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Abstract:
The recently discovered chiral induced spin selectivity (CISS) effect gives rise to a spin selective electron transmission through biomolecules. Here we review the mechanism behind the CISS effect and its implication for processes in Biology. Specifically, three processes are discussed: long-range electron transfer, spin effects on the oxidation of water, and enantioselectivity in bio-recognition events. These phenomena imply that chirality and spin may play several important roles in biology, which have not been considered so far.
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