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Unanswered Questions in the Evolution of Biomineralisation

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Isotopic Landscapes in Bioarchaeology

Abstract

Organisms have been building hard parts since the Late Precambrian. In fact representatives of all Kingdoms are able to biomineralise in the form of granules, plates, tubes, shells , bones or teeth. Biomineralised structures are mainly composites consisting of a mineralised component dispersed in an organic matrix and show an extraordinary diversity of microstructural arrangements and combinations. This wealth of diversity has stimulated a huge amount of interest and research, attracting the attention of biologists, materials scientists, archaeologists and palaeontologists and is increasingly using highly sophisticated techniques and interdisciplinary research to delve into the intricacies (e.g. DiMasi and Gower 2014).

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Acknowledgements

I was very grateful to be invited to take part in the Round Table discussion.

‘Biomineralization —Lessons from the past and for the future’ which proved a stimulating and thought-provoking session, really showing us how much more there is to learn.

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  1. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EQ, UK

    Elizabeth M. Harper

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Correspondence to Elizabeth M. Harper .

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  1. Biozentrum, LMU München, Martinsried, Germany

    Gisela Grupe

  2. Staatssammlung f. Anthropologie und Paläoanatomie, München, Bayern, Germany

    George C. McGlynn

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Harper, E.M. (2016). Unanswered Questions in the Evolution of Biomineralisation. In: Grupe, G., McGlynn, G. (eds) Isotopic Landscapes in Bioarchaeology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-48339-8_1

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