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Related Concept Videos

Bone Remodeling01:40

Bone Remodeling

Bone remodeling is a continuous and balanced process of bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts. In adults, it helps maintain bone mass and calcium homeostasis. While mechanical stress can stimulate turnover as part of the normal maintenance and reparative process, several hormones also regulate bone remodeling.
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis01:21

Skeleton and Calcium Homeostasis

Calcium is not only the most abundant mineral in bone but also the most abundant mineral in the human body. Calcium ions are needed for bone mineralization, tooth health, heart rate regulation and strength of contraction, blood coagulation, the contraction of smooth and skeletal muscle cells, and the regulation of nerve impulse conduction. The average calcium level in the blood is about 10 mg/dL. When the body cannot maintain this level, a person will experience hypo or hypercalcemia.
Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling01:31

Osteoclasts in Bone Remodeling

Osteoclasts are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodeling. They originate from hematopoietic progenitor cells present in the bone marrow. Numerous progenitor cells fuse to form multinucleated cells, each with 10-20 nuclei. A single osteoclast has a diameter of 150 to 200 µM. These cells have ruffled borders that break down the underlying bone tissue and release minerals such as calcium into the blood in bone resorption. Osteoclasts cling to bones with their ruffled edges during bone...
The Bone Matrix01:18

The Bone Matrix

Bone contains a relatively small number of cells entrenched in a matrix of collagen fibers that provide an adherent surface for inorganic salt crystals. Both components of the matrix, organic and inorganic, contribute to the unusual properties of bone. Without collagen, bones would be brittle and shatter easily. Without mineral crystals, bones would flex and provide little support. This can be observed by an experiment: when the minerals of a bone are dissolved by soaking the bone in acid or...
What is Evolutionary History?02:35

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.Phylogenetic trees illustrate the evolutionary relationships among these organisms. Scientists infer organisms’ common ancestry by evaluating shared morphological and genetic characteristics. Together, the fossil...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Characterization of Calcification Events Using Live Optical and Electron Microscopy Techniques in a Marine Tubeworm
15:39

Characterization of Calcification Events Using Live Optical and Electron Microscopy Techniques in a Marine Tubeworm

Published on: February 28, 2017

An evolutionary fast-track to biocalcification.

D J Jackson1, V Thiel, G Wörheide

  • 1Courant Research Centre Geobiology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.

Geobiology
|March 30, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Ancient sponges may have used bacteria to build skeletons, bypassing typical biomineralization proteins. This microbial-metazoan relationship could have formed early reef ecosystems.

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Characterization of Calcification Events Using Live Optical and Electron Microscopy Techniques in a Marine Tubeworm
15:39

Characterization of Calcification Events Using Live Optical and Electron Microscopy Techniques in a Marine Tubeworm

Published on: February 28, 2017

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09:31

Calcium Carbonate Formation in the Presence of Biopolymeric Additives

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A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro
11:30

A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro

Published on: June 2, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Paleontology
  • Biomineralization

Background:

  • Multicellular animal expansion in the early Cambrian was linked to biomineralization.
  • Biomineralization typically requires an organic matrix of proteins and carbohydrates.
  • Stromatoporid sponges, extinct reef-builders, offer insights into ancient biomineralization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the biomineralization process in Astrosclera willeyana, a living stromatoporid sponge.
  • Determine if Astrosclera willeyana utilizes bacterial remains in skeleton formation.
  • Explore the implications for ancient reef ecosystems and microbial-metazoan relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of Astrosclera willeyana's skeletal structure.
  • Microscopic examination of potential bacterial remnants within the sponge skeleton.
  • Comparison with known biomineralization pathways.

Main Results:

  • Astrosclera willeyana appears to use degraded bacterial remains to initiate CaCO(3) crystal growth.
  • This sponge seemingly bypasses the need for many typical mineral-regulating matrix proteins.
  • Fossil evidence suggests this bacterial skeleton formation strategy was present in ancient stromatoporid ancestors.

Conclusions:

  • A novel biomineralization strategy involving microbial symbiosis was identified in Astrosclera willeyana.
  • This mechanism may have been crucial for the reef-building capabilities of extinct stromatoporids.
  • Ancient reef ecosystems might have been founded on microbial-metazoan partnerships.