Evolution of the biofabrication of mineralized structures in animals

贝壳和骨骼是由各种各样的动物制造的。这些高度有序的晶体结构是由基因编码的，产生的高性能复合材料超出了人类工程的现有能力。这项国际合作将阐明控制这些结构制造的分子机制。这一知识将通过识别生物制造网络的潜在基因和开发体外生物生产系统，为开发先进的电子和能量传感器、人类骨疗法和珍珠和水泥等海洋产品的材料做出重大贡献。

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.