Corporate Body

CSIRO Division of Protein Chemistry (1958 - 1988)

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

From
9 October 1958
Parkville, Victoria, Australia
To
1 January 1988
Functions
Industrial or scientific research
Reference No
CA 4539
Legal Status
Agency of the Commonwealth of Australia
Location
Parkville, Victoria

Summary

The CSIRO Division of Protein Chemistry was formed in 1958, prior to which it was the Biochemistry Unit of the CSIRO Wool Textile Research Laboratories. In 1978 it was made part of the CSIRO Institute of Industrial Technology. In 1988 the Division became the CSIRO Division of Biotechnology.

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Details

From "CSIRO research for Australia" (1962) pdf pages 42-43:
"During the first decade of their existence the Wool Textile Research Laboratories, supported by the wool industry, grew steadily in size and stature. In 1958 they were accorded the status of Divisions, and were known respectively a the Division of Protein Chemistry, the Division of Textile Physics, and the Division of Textile Industry.

In the Division of Protein Chemistry, scientists are undertaking a long range research programme to elucidate the structure of wool, which is the most complex of all the textile fibres. Use is made of many modern physical and chemical techniques such as X-rays, the electron microscope, chromatography and polarography. Much has been learnt of the structure of the wool fibre at the cellular, sub-cellular and molecular levels. It has been found, for example, that two main types of protein occur in the wool fibres, one of which is concentrated in microfibrils, and the other in the surrounding matrix.

Although this research is of a fundamental nature, some of the knowledge gained has proved to be of value to industry. It has led, for instance, to a new method for recovering wool from skin pieces and to improvements in the carbonizing process used for removing plant material, such as burrs, from scoured wool. Research on woollen blankets has shown that wool is not a major source of cross-infection in hospital wards. In the course of this work a detergent has been developed in which shrink-proofed hospital blankets can be boiled without discolouration or damage. Work is also in hand on low temperature dyeing of wool. Another project is aimed at finding out why white wool turns yellow when washed or exposed to sunlight."

Timeline

 1949 - 1958 CSIRO Biochemistry Unit, Wool Textile Research Laboratories
 1949 - 1958 CSIRO Wool Textile Research Laboratories
       1958 - 1988 CSIRO Division of Protein Chemistry
             1988 - 1989 CSIRO Division of Biotechnology
                   1989 - 1997 CSIRO Division of Biomolecular Engineering
                         1997 - 2005 CSIRO Division of Molecular Science
                               2005 - CSIRO Molecular and Health Technologies

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Ailie Smith

Created: 22 June 2000, Last modified: 10 April 2025

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