ORNL microscopy yields first proof of ferroelectricity in simplest amino acid - The boundary between electronics and biology is blurring with the first detection by researchers at Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory of ferroelectric properties in an amino acid called glycine. Reference: 'Nanoscale Ferroelectricity in Crystalline γ-Glycine,' A. Kholkin et al, Advanced Functional Materials (online), 18 APR 2012 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201103011