Mollusk shell 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Diversity of mollusk classes 3. Structural, microstructural
and ultrastructural considerations on the shell 3.1. Structure of the shell and mineralogy 3.2 …

In the last few years, the field of molluscan biomineralization has known a tremendous
mutation, regarding fundamental concepts on biomineralization regulation as well as …

Molluscs comprise the second largest phylum of animals (after arthropods), occurring in
virtually all habitats. Some are commercially important, a few are pests and some carry …

The shell secreted by molluscs is one of the most remarkable examples of a matrix-mediated
mineralisation performed outside living tissues. The calcifying matrix is a mixture of proteins …

An external skeleton is an essential part of the body plan of many animals and is thought to
be one of the key factors that enabled the great expansion in animal diversity and disparity …

Marine organisms are constituted by materials with a vast range of properties and
characteristics that may justify their potential application within the biomedical field …

We show how nacre and pearl construction in bivalve and gastropod molluscs can be
understood in terms of successive processes of controlled self-assembly from the molecular …

The higher chordate subgroup includes all the vertebrates: fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds,
and mammals. All of them are found in marine environments and coastal regions. Probably …

Biomineralization, the biologically controlled formation of mineral deposits, is of widespread
importance in biology, medicine, and engineering. Mineralized structures are found in most …

Mineralized tissue is vital to many characteristic adaptive phenotypes in vertebrates. Three
primary tissues, enamel (enameloid), dentin, and bone, are found in the body armor of …