ABSTRACT
R. MALCOLM BROWN, JR. University o f Texas , A ustin , Texas
I. INTRODUCTION
At present, the science of cellulose seems to be entering a new and dynamic stage of activity as a result of recent progress in struc tural and biological studies. While no cellulose scientist has doubted the fundamental role of the biogenic mechanism in determining the structure of native celluloses, our knowledge in both of these fields has been frustratingly limited. A series of findings in the last few years, however, provided clues toward understanding the basic fea tures of the molecular construction of cellulose microfibrils in diverse organisms. In this chapter we will attempt to describe and organize these new findings in such a way as to give an overview of this rapidly evolving branch of cellulose research.
