Multi-scale Analysis of BIOLOGICAL MAterials / Group Mantra :

Biomineral morphogenesis proceeds under genetic control. The physical models developed in the group describe how this control is executed: By generating a driving force for mineral nucleation and growth in the form of biochemical and physical boundary conditions that guide the self-assembly of a specific morphology. Mineral formation must adhere to the basic principles of crystal growth kinetics and thermodynamics. The main distinction between the growth of the various biomineralized structures in nature are the driving forces set by the organisms that ultimately regulate the nucleation, manipulate the shape, and assemble the mineral components. Identifying these forces is not only key to the study of biomineral formation, but is essential to our understanding of the most fundamental processes in evolution and to translating the natural phenomenon into explicit tools for novel bioinspired materials design.