Scientists discover mineral-making secrets potentially useful for new materials
Thursday, August 1, 2013 - 12:00
in Physics & Chemistry
Proteins have gotten most of the attention in studies of how organic materials control the initial step of making the first tiny crystals that organisms use to build structures that help them move and protect themselves. Researchers have discovered that certain types of sugars, known as polysaccharides, may also control the timing and placement of minerals that animals use to produce hard structures.