Web silks from spiders may hold the key on how to repair human bones, according to the researchers at the University of California San Diego and the University of Texas. The study also discovered a specific gene that may initiate biomineralization in human stem cells. Initiating biomineralization can activate bone formation which leads to bone regeneration or osteoregeneration.
Biomineralization is a biological process which allows an organism to produce minerals. These minerals are often used by an organism to harden or stiffen existing tissues, resulting in mineralized tissues. All kingdoms in taxonomy have members capable of this process, such as algae with silicates, invertebrates with carbonates, and vertebrates with calcium phosphates. …show more content…
These cells have a single nucleus and responsible for bone synthesis. A group of osteoblasts can produce an osteon, a fundamental unit of a bone. Osteoblasts produce a matrix of osteoid, an unmineralized portion of the bone matrix, and mineralize it using minerals, such as copper, sodium, and zinc.
Osteoclasts are cells that break down bone tissue during bone growth and repair. They work with osteoblasts and osteocytes, cells buried in an osteoid, to form the components and structure of bones. Other cell types that reside in the hollow parts of bones serve supplies for bone cells. They provide necessary components, such as energy and nutrients, to the cells responsible for bone formation.
Unfortunately, a person’s age affects bone formation and bone resorption, which often leads to osteoporosis, a severe condition of bone loss. Osteoporosis increases the person’s risk of fracture, a hunched forward posture, and chronic back pain. More than 200 million people in the world suffer from osteoporosis. Between 1990 and 2000, an increase of almost 25 percent in hip fracture cases worldwide. Experts estimate that incidence of hip fracture will increase by 310 percent in and 240 percent in women by
Biomineralization is a biological process which allows an organism to produce minerals. These minerals are often used by an organism to harden or stiffen existing tissues, resulting in mineralized tissues. All kingdoms in taxonomy have members capable of this process, such as algae with silicates, invertebrates with carbonates, and vertebrates with calcium phosphates. …show more content…
These cells have a single nucleus and responsible for bone synthesis. A group of osteoblasts can produce an osteon, a fundamental unit of a bone. Osteoblasts produce a matrix of osteoid, an unmineralized portion of the bone matrix, and mineralize it using minerals, such as copper, sodium, and zinc.
Osteoclasts are cells that break down bone tissue during bone growth and repair. They work with osteoblasts and osteocytes, cells buried in an osteoid, to form the components and structure of bones. Other cell types that reside in the hollow parts of bones serve supplies for bone cells. They provide necessary components, such as energy and nutrients, to the cells responsible for bone formation.
Unfortunately, a person’s age affects bone formation and bone resorption, which often leads to osteoporosis, a severe condition of bone loss. Osteoporosis increases the person’s risk of fracture, a hunched forward posture, and chronic back pain. More than 200 million people in the world suffer from osteoporosis. Between 1990 and 2000, an increase of almost 25 percent in hip fracture cases worldwide. Experts estimate that incidence of hip fracture will increase by 310 percent in and 240 percent in women by