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 spite of more than one century and half of studies, mechanisms of coral biomineralization,
leading to coral growth and reef formation, still remain poorly known, although major global …

Most molluscs possess shells, constructed from a vast array of microstructures and
architectures. The fully formed shell is composed of calcite or aragonite. These CaCO3 …

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

The phylum M ollusca is highly speciose, and is the largest phylum in the marine realm. The
great majority of molluscs are shelled, including nearly all bivalves, most gastropods and …

Mollusca evolutionary success can be attributed partly to their efficiency to sustain and
protect their soft body with an external biomineralized structure, the shell. Current …

Climate change is threatening tropical reefs across the world, with most scientists agreeing
that the current changes in climate conditions are occurring at a much faster rate than in the …

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 …

The capacity to biomineralize is closely linked to the rapid expansion of animal life during
the early Cambrian, with many skeletonized phyla first appearing in the fossil record at this …

Background The shell of the pearl-producing bivalve Pinctada margaritifera is composed of
an organic cell-free matrix that plays a key role in the dynamic process of biologically …