Navigation Links
A crystal clear view of chalk formation
Date:1/23/2009

urchin forms its spines. As the tiny clusters with which crystallization starts are stable, organisms would have to intervene only at this early stage to influence the structure. They might use the pH level or biomolecules to do this.

The theory of crystallization that has prevailed so far leaves little room for influencing the arrangement of the ions in the regular crystal lattice early on. It assumes that the ions do not group together until a certain concentration has been exceeded. If these clusters do not reach a minimum size, they break apart. It is only when they can get beyond the size of the "critical crystal nucleus" that it becomes possible for the nucleus to grow into a crystal. The earliest point at which the crystal structure could be influenced would therefore be the critical nucleus.

The researchers in Golm used calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate to test whether other minerals also follow this crystallization pathway. Calcium phosphate is the main constituent of bones and teeth; kidney stones are predominately made up of calcium oxalate. The scientists subjected these materials to the same test as calcium carbonate. Drop by drop they added a solution containing calcium ions to a solution with the other component - that is, carbonate, phosphate or oxalate ions. With a special electrode they measured how many of the added calcium ions were present in the solution. It turned out that also in the experiments with calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate, there were fewer ions available than the researchers had added - they must therefore have been fixed into clusters, as was the case with the calcium carbonate.

Consequences for technology and climate change

The newly proposed mechanism of crystallization also has consequences for technology. "The stable clusters offer a new point at which to tackle lime scale deposits - not only in washing machines and dish washers, but also in industry," says Helmut Clfen. Thi
'/>"/>

Contact: Dr. Helmut Coelfen
helmut.coelfen@mpikg.mpg.de
49-331-567-9513
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Heavy pyridine crystallizes differently
2. Bare bones of crystal growth: Biomolecules enhance metal contents in calcite
3. Photonic crystal biosensors detect protein-DNA interactions
4. Scientists demonstrate the sharpest measurement of ice crystals in clouds
5. Crystal (eye) ball: Study says visual system equipped with future seeing powers
6. New clues to how proteins dissolve and crystallize
7. Scientists find missing evolutionary link using tiny fungus crystal
8. Liquid crystal phases of tiny DNA molecules point up new scenario for first life on Earth
9. Unveiling the structure of microcrystals
10. Researchers develop liquid crystal pharmaceuticals to fight cancer and other diseases
11. Digital communication technology helps clear path to personalized therapies
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
A crystal clear view of chalk formation
(Date:5/24/2013)... avoiding detection and destruction by the immune system. Stimulation ... cells; however, there are many factors that cause the ... are immune cells that function to suppress the immune ... of Clinical Investigation , researchers led by Ronald Levy ... infiltrate tumors express proteins that can be targeted with ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... Plant Science , Automated conserved ... and promoter evolution among grasses , Within the ... of DNA that undergo little change in position and ... for any proteins. Some of these evolutionarily stable sequences, ... the expression of other genes or the condensation of ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... By discovering the new mechanism by which estrogen suppresses ... revealed a potential new approach toward treating certain liver ... and colleagues believe they are changing long-held views in ... issue of the journal Science Signaling . , ... years has been that only receptors located in the ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Frontiers news briefs: May 23 2Frontiers news briefs: May 23 3UCI study reveals new mechanism for estrogen suppression of liver lipid synthesis 2
... MO, January 5, 2010 With obesity rising markedly, reliance ... management strategy. Since people who are trying to reduce their ... calories" or "reduced-energy" in restaurants and supermarkets, it is essential ... in the January 2010 issue of the Journal of ...
... what amounted to a kind of census of sweet corn ... in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota shed light on what works ... the results also revealed some of the more complicated relationships ... in the Midwest. "Rather than a typical controlled field ...
... filled with discussion and debate emanating from the ... As expected, the majority of climate change ... environmental measures - regulations to restrict carbon emissions, ... new book Paradise Regained: The Regreening of Earth ...
Cached Biology News:Restaurant and packaged foods can have more calories than nutrition labeling indicates 2Sweet corn study provides large-scale picture of better fields 2Sweet corn study provides large-scale picture of better fields 3Global warming and other environmental dangers may be solved by unlikely source -- space technology 2
(Date:5/23/2013)... Can economic incentives such as gift cards, T-shirts, ... public to increase their donations of blood? , A ... School Assistant Professor Mario Macis says the answer ... of recent research that supports their argument, the three ... Science that the World Health Organization and national blood ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013 PuraMed ... developer, and marketer of over-the-counter (OTC) medicinal and ... research opinion on the company based on low ... , Non-Prescription, All Natural Product to Treat ... Product Outperforms #1 Prescription Competitor , Currently ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 2013 PI’s new LPS-24 positioners ... 15 mm travel range with closed-loop sensor resolution ... make these new positioners the ideal choice for ... rated version is also available. , More ... can be found at: , http://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/products/prdetail.php?sortnr=1000745&prw-lps24 ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 Virobay, Inc. today announced that ... reached an important milestone, as Virobay has now initiated ... selective cathepsin S inhibitor.   The first ... placebo-controlled study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics ... adults. "The initiation of this Phase 1 ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 2Offering Economic Incentives to Attract Blood Donations Should Be Encouraged, Research Team writes in Science 3PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 2PuraMed BioScience (PMBS) Issued Alert Based on Market Cap of $721,756 3Precision Positioning System Uses Miniaturezed Piezo Linear Motor: LPS-24 Linear Stage by PI 2Virobay, Inc. initiates a Phase 1 Trial of VBY-036, a compound intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain 2Virobay, Inc. initiates a Phase 1 Trial of VBY-036, a compound intended for the treatment of neuropathic pain 3
... MannKind,Corporation (Nasdaq: MNKD ) today issued ... MannKind is absolutely committed to the continued ... use our small,patient-friendly Medtone(R) inhaler to deliver Technosphere(R) ... much more closely matches the pattern,of insulin secretion ...
... HOPKINTON, Mass., March 10 Caliper Life,Sciences, Inc. ... presentation at the,Cowen and Company 28th Annual Health ... March 17, at 2:30 p.m. EDT. Kevin Hrusovsky, ... update on the company,s business.,The live webcast can ...
... Elekta Neuromag(R), the,world-leading equipment for non-invasive ... has been ordered by,Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital., ... Located in the western suburbs of Milwaukee, ... the quality of life in Wisconsin and ...
Cached Biology Technology:MannKind Corporation Response to Recent Market Events 2MannKind Corporation Response to Recent Market Events 3MannKind Corporation Response to Recent Market Events 4MannKind Corporation Response to Recent Market Events 5MannKind Corporation Response to Recent Market Events 6Elekta Chosen to Deliver Sophisticated Brain Mapping Technology to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee 2Elekta Chosen to Deliver Sophisticated Brain Mapping Technology to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee 3
...
No description available in Ensembl. Antigen: Recombinant Protein Epitope Signature Tag (PrEST)....
5(S)-HETE-d8 is used as an internal standard for the quantification of 5(S)-HETE by stable isotope dilution mass spectrometry....
Full-length cDNA clone CS0DJ013YG01 of T cells (Jurkat cell line) of Homo sapiens (human). [Source:Uniprot/SPTREMBL;Acc:Q86SZ3] Antigen: Recombinant Protein Epitope Signature Tag (PrEST)....
Biology Products: