Navigation Links
Focus on the formation of bones, teeth and shells
Date:5/14/2009

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology for the first time have shown the earliest stages in biomineralization, the process that leads to the formation of bones, teeth and sea shells.

They used the world's most modern electron microscope to capture a three-dimensional image of the nanoparticles that form the basis for this process. The results provide a greater understanding of the formation of bones, teeth and shells. This creates a prospect of better materials and processes for industry, based on nature. The findings featured as the cover story for the scientific journal Science on Friday 13 March.

The researchers, led by Vidi laureate Dr Nico Sommerdijk, managed to image small clusters, with a diameter of 0.7 nanometers, in a solution of calcium carbonate, (the basic material of shells, for example). They were the first to show that these clusters, containing no more than about ten ions, were the start of the growth process from which the crystalline biomineral is ultimately formed.

To do this, they used the extremely high resolution of a special electron microscope, the FEI Company's cryoTitan. The equipment was acquired with the assistance of a NWO Large Investment grant for the TU/e and Maastricht University. It allowed them to be the first in their field to see how the clusters nucleated into larger, unstructured nanoparticles with an average diameter of about 30 nanometers.

Three-dimensional imaging revealed that an organic surface introduced by the researchers allowed these nanoparticles to grow into larger particles, in which crystalline areas could be formed later, through structuring of the ions. The TU/e researchers demonstrated a second role for the organic layer: it directed quite precisely the direction in which the mineral could grow into a mature biomineral. In the near future they hope to show that the mechanism they have discovered also applies to the formation of other crystalline biomin
'/>"/>

Contact: Nico Sommerdijk
N.Sommerdijk@tue.nl
31-040-247-5870
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Food and environmental sustainability focus of ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings
2. New south Florida nursery to focus on staghorn corals
3. Critically endangered porpoise is focus of new research report
4. Project focuses on production of hydrogen from bacteria and sunlight
5. Powerful yet reliable proteomics techniques are the focus of a new methods book
6. Astronomy technology brings nanoparticle probes into sharper focus
7. Multiple resource management is focus of new technical report
8. European membrane expertise to focus on new treatments for human diseases
9. Community-intervention study links successful town makeover focused on boosting calcium and exercise
10. York symposium puts focus on chemical weather
11. Forum to focus on math and mechanics behind life processes
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/16/2013)... Illustrating a commitment to the support of ... (AGA) Research Foundation has announced the inaugural AGA ... recipients. Supported by the National Institute of Diabetes ... award helps underrepresented minority students to further their ... , "By establishing this new award, AGA demonstrates ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... ancient shorelines to predict the stability of today,s largest ice ... from three million years ago, for example when Earth ... be evidence of a high sea level due to ice ... scientists to think that if the world,s largest ice sheets ... same in our modern, progressively warming world. , However, ...
(Date:5/16/2013)... 2013 The relationship between the heritable risk ... been clear. Schizophrenia is commonly associated with cognitive ... clues that reduced IQ may be linked to ... cognitive ability may precede the onset of schizophrenia ... healthy relatives of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. , ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Underrepresented minority students receive fellowships in digestive disease and nutrition research 2World's biggest ice sheets likely more stable than previously believed 2Genetic risk for schizophrenia is connected to reduced IQ 2
... Innes Centre in Norwich have discovered how roots find their ... in the forthcoming edition of Science, also explains how germinating ... burrow. The key is in the fuzzy coat of ... We have identified a growth control mechanism that enables these ...
... important discovery has been made with respect to the mystery ... research professor at Arizona State University, found that some of ... Earth have been shown to carry handedness in a larger ... in this weeks Early Edition of the Proceedings of the ...
... technique that combines low temperature measurements and theoretical calculations, ... for the first time the electronic structure of single ... properties of DNA is an important issue in many ... in the study of DNA damage by ultraviolet radiation ...
Cached Biology News:ASU researcher may have discovered key to life before its origin on Earth 2Electronic structure of DNA revealed for 1st time by Hebrew University and collaborating researchers 2
(Date:5/20/2013)... 20, 2013   Flexion Therapeutics , Inc. today ... to its management team as chief financial ... financial management experience with biotechnology and medical device companies. ... chief financial officer for Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX ... than $250 million through a combination of investment funding ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Interventional cardiologist Tony Farah, MD, and ... Cardiovascular Institute have helped pioneer many breakthroughs ... over the past three decades, from new disease-fighting ... coronary artery stent implantation. , Today, AGH officials announced ... role in the study of a novel, first-of-its kind ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Recognizing exciting and innovative scientific research, ... 2013 Class of Young Professors. Over the ... outstanding international group with more than $824,000 to ... meet global challenges.     , The DuPont Young Professor ... untenured research faculty working in areas of interest ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Kitware, a leader in data visualization, today ... exploration of hospital costs across the United States ... recent release of “Medicare Provider Charge Data,” a dataset ... from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. , ... hospitals across the country has sparked considerable controversy; however, ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Flexion Therapeutics Names Frederick Driscoll Chief Financial Officer 2Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 2Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 3Allegheny General Hospital Cardiovascular Institute Becomes Exclusive Pittsburgh Site for Study of Novel Coronary Artery Disease Device 4DuPont Celebrates Scientific Innovation by Recognizing Young Professors 2DuPont Celebrates Scientific Innovation by Recognizing Young Professors 3Kitware Enables Interactive Exploration of CMS Medicare Data 2
... UltraTape Industries, a division,of Delphon Industries and ... today the availability of sample kits for ... are currently 5,sample kits available including those ... Tapes, ESD Tapes, Medical and,Pharmaceutical Tapes, and ...
... CLARA, Calif., April 22 /PRNewswire/,-- Agendia BV, a ... molecular,diagnostics, and Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A ... collaborate to develop new in-vitro,diagnostic tests. In addition, ... products will continue to be supplied on Agilent ...
... $250,000 under March ... ... BMRX), a leading developer and supplier of consumer-based,finger-activated products, today announced ... personnel of Sequiam,Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: SQUME) through a previously announced,agreement ...
Cached Biology Technology:UltraTape Announces Sample Kits Available for Purchase Through Website 2Agendia and Agilent Announce Plans to Jointly Develop New Diagnostic Tests, Extend Supply Agreement 2Agendia and Agilent Announce Plans to Jointly Develop New Diagnostic Tests, Extend Supply Agreement 3bioMETRX, Inc. Initiates Integration of Personnel and Assets of Sequiam Corp. 2
... is an affordable, compact benchtop imager ... providing a broad array of automated ... high-resolution images with high-performance laser autofocus, ... and emission filter changers, and a ...
... include: Microarray hybridization chamber assembly (1 ... clamp, thumbscrew) Microarray chamber user guide ... intended to be cleaned and reused. The ... Catalog Oligo Microarray kits and all custom ...
... Blood Vessel Staining Kit is a very ... vascular endothelial cells, containing both anti-von Willebrand ... applicable to a variety of species. This ... for the staining of frozen and paraffin-embedded ...
... Ham's F-12 was developed for culturing hybrid ... The modification consists of doubling the amino ... The salt concentrations have been altered as ... sulfate per liter, which may render it ...
Biology Products: