Crystals: animal, vegetable or mineral?

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Crystallography
• Biology

Background:

• Historically, biological materials were considered distinct from inorganic matter due to differences in morphology and molecular assembly.
• A prevailing belief separated the amorphous, flexible structures of life from the crystalline, rigid forms of inorganic substances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the historical evolution of understanding material structures across the living-inanimate spectrum.
• To challenge the perceived dichotomy between biological and inorganic matter through the lens of crystallography.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical perspectives on material structures.
• Analysis of crystallographic developments in materials science and biology.
• Examination of soft matter and liquid crystal research.

Main Results:

• The historical distinction between biological and inorganic matter structures is a false dichotomy.
• Crystallography and soft matter research reveal significant overlap and shared features.
• A continuum of forms exists, unifying biological and inorganic matter.

Conclusions:

• Current understanding supports a unified view of material structures, challenging long-held beliefs.
• Recognizing this continuum has implications for fields like astrobiology and paleontology.
• The study emphasizes shared principles governing structures across all matter.