Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals

贝壳和骨骼是由各种各样的动物产生的。这些高度有序的晶体结构是遗传编码的，并产生了高性能的复合材料，超过了目前人类工程的能力。这项国际合作将阐明控制这些结构制造的分子机制。这些知识将通过识别生物制造网络的基因和体外生物生产系统的发展，为先进电子和能量传感器、人类骨骼疗法和海洋产品（如珍珠和水泥）的材料开发做出重大贡献。

Shells and skeletons are produced by a wide range of animals. These highly-order crystalline structures are genetically-encoded and produce high-performance composite materials that exceed present capabilities in human engineering. This international collaboration will elucidate the molecular mechanisms controlling the fabrication of these architectures. This knowledge will contribute significantly to the development of materials for advanced electronics and energy transducers, human bone therapeutics and marine-based products such as pearls and cements, through the identification of genes underlying biofabrication networks and the development of in vitro bioproduction systems.