Liquid crystalline polyesters are among the first industrially used liquid crystal polymers. Nucleic acids are linear polymers (chains) of nucleotides. Dapsone has been use as a monomer in the design of dye adsorbent polymers. BASF produces a range of performance chemicals, coatings and functional polymers. Silicon is the basis of the widely used synthetic polymers called silicones. Silicon is the basis of the ubiquitous synthetic silicon-based polymers called silicones. SEC is used primarily for the analysis of large molecules such as proteins or polymers. Alkenes are precursors to aldehydes, alcohols, polymers, and aromatics. Such applications involve major industries focused especially on polymers (and plastics) and pharmaceuticals. Other biomedical applications include the use of biodegradable, elastic shape-memory polymers. Protein synthesis entails intermediary ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymers. Poly(vinyl alcohol) is one of the few biodegradable vinyl polymers that is soluble in water. High conductivity semisolid (gel) polymers form this electrolyte. It is used as a plasticizer for vinyl polymers. Also, the melting points of such covalent polymers and networks increase greatly.