G7451 Course on biomineralization

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2008
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s). Recommended Type of Completion: k (colloquium). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. Mihaly Posfai (lecturer), prof. RNDr. Milan Novák, CSc. (deputy)
prof. RNDr. Milan Novák, CSc. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Rostislav Melichar, Dr.
Department of Geological Sciences – Earth Sciences Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Martin Ivanov, Dr.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 78 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/78, only registered: 0/78, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/78
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 37 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
Main objectives can be summarized as follows: to understand process producing mineral controlled or induced by organisms.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction to biominerals - definition, occurrence, significance in earth sciences, history of research 2. Main types of biomineral-forming processes 2.1. Biologically-controlled mineralization, BCM - usually intracellular, mineral formation under strict biological control, the product has specific properties that enable the mineral to perform certain functions in the organism 2.2. Biologically-induced mineralization, BIM - usually extracellular, no strict biological control over mineral formation 3. Biomineral species – crystal chemistry and structure - oxides (magnetite, maghemite, hematite, goethite, lepidocrocite, ferrihydrite) - sulfides (greigite, mackinawite, pyrite, sphalerite, wurtzite) - silica - carbonates (calcite, Mg-calcite, dolomite, aragonite, vaterite, amorphous) - phosphates (various types of apatite, amorphous phosphate) - sulphates (gypsum, celestite, barite) - organic minerals (whewellite, weddellite) 4. Biologically-controlled mineralization (BCM) 4.1. Functions of BCM minerals - mechanical functions (protection, support, motion, cutting and grinding) - magnetic sensing - gravity and optical sensing - storage 4.2. Special properties of BCM minerals - uniform particle sizes - unusual or complex, well-defined morphologies - strictly controlled composition and structure (polymorph selection) - controlled aggregation and texture - controlled crystallographic orientation - assembly into hierarchical structures 4.3. How do organisms use the special mineral properties for their biological functions?(Specific examples) - calcification in algae and coccoliths - silica biomineralization by diatoms, radiolarians and plants - magnetic sensing by bacteria and pigeons using magnetite, maghemite and greigite - magnetic oxides and sulfides for grinding and protection (chiton and deep-sea snail) - carbonate shell structures of molluscs, brachiopods, sea urchins - carbonate structures in eggshells - iron storage in ferritin - bones and teeth of vertebrates 4.4. Principles of BCM, control mechanisms over mineral formation at the organic/inorganic interface - chemical control (solubility, supersaturation, homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation, crystal growth mechanisms, crystal growth inhibition, polymorphism, phase transitions) - spatial control (membrane-bounded phospholipid vesicles, protein vesicles, cellular assemblies, macromolecular frameworks) - structural control (organic matrices as mechanical frameworks and nucleation sites) - morphological control (symmetry breaking, vectorial regulation, pattern formation) - constructional control (examples for structural hierarchy: coccoliths and bones) 4.5. The genetic background of biologically controlled mineralization - results from the genetic engineering of magnetotactic bacteria 4.6. Biomimetic materials synthesis and applications - synthesis in confined reaction spaces - template-directed materials synthesis - morphosynthesis 5. Biologically-induced mineralization (BIM) 5.1. Mineral-forming processes at the cell wall - soluble biopolymers, gas/ion exchange, membrane transport, enzyme activity, electron transfer, nucleation and surface layer proteins 5.2. Biologically-induced metal oxide and sulfide mineralization - iron and manganese reduction - iron and manganese oxidation - sulfate reduction and sulfide mineral formation in marine environments - metal sulfide formation in contaminated environments; the use of BIM processes for bioremediation 5.3. Pathological mineral formation - stones, calcification of arteries, minerals in the brain 6. Geomicrobiology: microbes and geochemical cycles - concept of global geochemical cycles - the effects of biomineralization on the cycles of C, Ca, Si, and P 7. Biomineralization and evolutionary history – or, biominerals through the geological time - minerals and the origin of life – current theories - the fossil record of biominerals – facts and problems - the phylogenetic distribution of mineralized skeletons and magnetotactic bacteria - extinctions and their effects on biomineralization Practical sessions - collection and magnetic enrichment of magnetotactic bacteria - observation of magnetotaxis using optical microscopes - shell structures under the optical microscope
Assessment methods
class discussion
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
Note related to how often the course is taught: týdenní kurz.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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