Helical microstructures in molluscan biomineralization are a biological example of close packed helices that may form from a colloidal liquid crystal precursor in a twist–bend nematic phase

Physical Review Materials, vol. 6

Abstract

We demonstrate that nature has produced a close-packed helical twisted filamentous material in the biomineralization of the mollusk.In liquid crystals, twist-bend nematics have been predicted and observed.We present and analyze evidence that the helical biomineral microstructure of mollusk shells may be formed from such a liquid-crystal precursor.

Authors 6

1. Katarzyna Berent

   AGH University of Krakow

   Affiliation as printed

   Academic Centre for Materials and Nanotechnology, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-055 Kraków, Poland

2. Julyan H. E. Cartwright

   Universidad de Granada · Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC–Universidad de Granada, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain

   Instituto Carlos I de Física Teórica y Computacional, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

3. Antonio Gerardo Checa

   Universidad de Granada · Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra

   Affiliation as printed

   Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain

   Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC–Universidad de Granada, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain

4. Carlos Pimentel

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Universidad de Granada · Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra · Institut des Sciences de la Terre · Université Gustave Eiffel · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Université Savoie Mont Blanc · Université Grenoble Alpes

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC–Universidad de Granada, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain

   Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Université Gustave Eiffel, ISTerre, 38000 Grenoble, France

5. Paula Ramos‐Silva Aachen Plankton Diversity and Evolution Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Naturalis Biodiversity Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Plankton Diversity and Evolution, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, Netherlands

6. Claro Ignacio Sainz-Díaz

   Universidad de Granada · Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra

   Affiliation as printed

   Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC–Universidad de Granada, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain