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Related Concept Videos

Minerals01:26

Minerals

356
Minerals are essential nutrients that the human body needs in small amounts to work properly. They play a vital role in many bodily functions, such as building strong bones and transmitting nerve impulses. Some minerals are needed for hormone production or to maintain a normal heartbeat. Major minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, chlorine, and magnesium, while trace minerals include iron, manganese, copper, iodine, zinc, cobalt, fluoride, and selenium.
 
Major...
356
Essential Minerals for Bone Health01:31

Essential Minerals for Bone Health

4.1K
The minerals contained in all of the food we consume are essential for our organ systems. However, certain essential minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, and fluoride, largely affect bone health.
Calcium and Phosphorus
Calcium is a critical component of bones, especially in the form of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. Since the body cannot make calcium, it must be obtained from the diet. However, calcium cannot be absorbed from the small intestine without...
4.1K
Green Algae01:21

Green Algae

50
Green algae, also referred to as chlorophytes, are different from red algae in having the chloroplasts containing chlorophylls a and b, which give them their distinct green hue. However, they lack phycobiliproteins, preventing them from developing the red or blue-green pigmentation seen in red algae. In terms of photosynthetic pigment composition, green algae closely resemble plants and share a close evolutionary relationship with them. Taxonomically Green algae belong to Phylum Chlorophyta in...
50
Potential Energy00:52

Potential Energy

38.6K
The energy stored by a structure and location of matter in space is called potential energy. For instance, raising a kettlebell changes its spatial location and increases its potential energy. Similarly, a stretched rubber band contains potential energy which, under certain conditions, can be converted into other forms of energy, such as kinetic energy.
Chemical bonds that form attractive forces between atoms also contain potential energy, called chemical energy. When a chemical reaction...
38.6K
Water and Mineral Acquisition02:34

Water and Mineral Acquisition

33.2K
Specialized tissues in plant roots have evolved to capture water, minerals, and some ions from the soil. Roots exhibit a variety of branching patterns that facilitate this process. The outermost root cells have specialized structures called root hairs that increase the root surface, thus increasing soil contact. Water can passively cross into roots, as the concentration of water in the soil is higher than that of the root tissue. Minerals, in contrast, are actively transported into root cells.
33.2K
The Soil Ecosystem02:23

The Soil Ecosystem

20.5K
Plants obtain inorganic minerals and water from the soil, which acts as a natural medium for land plants. The composition and quality of soil depend not only on the chemical constituents but also on the presence of living organisms. In general, soils contain three major components:
20.5K

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A re-examination of the mechanism of whiting events: A new role for diatoms in Fayetteville Green Lake (New York, USA).

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Monitoring Pedogenic Inorganic Carbon Accumulation Due to Weathering of Amended Silicate Minerals in Agricultural Soils.
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Will tomorrow's mineral materials be grown?

Julie Cosmidis1

  • 1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Microbial Biotechnology
|July 31, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Bacteria can form unique minerals through biomineralization, offering potential for advanced materials. Overcoming challenges in understanding microbial control and scaling up production is key to unlocking this potential for sustainable bioeconomies.

Area of Science:

  • Microbial Ecology
  • Geomicrobiology
  • Biomaterials Science

Background:

  • Biomineralization, the bacterial capacity to form minerals, has evolved across diverse lineages for adaptation.
  • Microbial biominerals exhibit unique properties (morphology, composition, structure) distinct from abiotic minerals, defining a 'mineral phenotype'.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of microbial biomineralization for designing and biomanufacturing advanced mineral materials.
  • To identify challenges hindering the application of microbial biomineralization in technological applications and industrial production.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing research on microbial biomineralization mechanisms and applications.
  • Analysis of challenges in understanding molecular control and upscaling production.

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Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
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Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis

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Author Spotlight: Unraveling the Role of Earthworms in Enhancing Mineral Weathering for CO2 Removal
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Analysis of Minerals Produced by hFOB 1.19 and Saos-2 Cells Using Transmission Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Microanalysis
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  • Identification of interdisciplinary approaches needed for future development.

    • Main Results:

    • Microbial biomineralization offers a route to novel mineral materials with unique properties.
    • Limited understanding of molecular mechanisms and difficulties in scaling up production are major barriers.
    • Successful application requires integrating expertise from microbiology, geomicrobiology, bioengineering, and material science.

    Conclusions:

    • Harnessing microbial biomineralization for material design is currently underexploited due to knowledge and scalability gaps.
    • Interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to advance bioengineering strategies for improved biomineral properties.
    • Future efforts could establish a mineral biomanufacturing industry, supporting sustainable and circular bioeconomies.