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Calcite control

The Organic-Mineral Interface Pupa Gilbert, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Award number: CHE- 0613972 co-funded by DMR. The complex and fascinating structures of biominerals , including teeth, bones, shells etc. are determined by a few organic molecules.

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Calcite control

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  1. The Organic-Mineral InterfacePupa Gilbert, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Award number: CHE-0613972 co-funded by DMR The complex and fascinating structures of biominerals, including teeth, bones, shells etc. are determined by a few organic molecules.

  2. The Organic-Mineral InterfacePupa Gilbert, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Award number: CHE-0613972 co-funded by DMR The organic-mineral interface (OMI) is poorly understood at the molecular level.We found bonds at the OMI with synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy. We looked at (i) the protein, (ii) the control mineral, then (iii) the mineral grown in the presence of the protein (see right SEM micrograph). Calcite control Calcite grown in the presence of biomineral protein shows altered morphology Spectroscopically, the latter is NOT the sum of the two former! iii ≠ i+ii Bonds are formed at the OMI, which we revealed. Rebecca A. Metzler, IW Kim, Katya Delak, JS Evans, D Zhou, E Beniash, F Wilt, M Abrecht, JW Chiou, J Guo, Susan N. Coppersmith, Pupa Gilbert. The organic-mineral interface in model biominerals. Langmuir, in press (2008).

  3. Synchrotron Light Shed on the Complex Structure of Mother-of-PearlPupa Gilbert, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Award number: CHE-0613972 co-funded by DMR p.gilbert m.abrecht r.metzler r.olabisi a.konicek d.grierson Outreach: We present our research on biominerals to 200-400 people from the general public at the SRC yearly Open Houses, to 3000 people at the Wonders of Physics yearly show at UW-Madison. We also offer hands-on experience on spectromicroscopy to the 40 students/year attending the Microscopy of Life course. Education: Two undergraduates (Derek Wolley and Jesse Pacheco (minority), four graduate students (Rebecca Metzler, Dong Zhou, Andrew Konicek and David Grierson), one post-doc (Ronke Olabisi (minority) and one staff scientist (Mike Abrecht) participate in research under Gilbert’s guidance. Gilbert teaches Physics in the Arts (300 undergrads), and Microscopy of Life (40 grads and undergrads). REU students at SRC practice lasso during a party outside the Synchrotron Radiation Center, “Home of Aladdin”, supported by award DMR-0537588.

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