Course Identification

Title:

Biomineralization

Code:

20252201

Lecturers and Teaching Assistants

Lecturers:

Prof. Lia Addadi, Prof. Assaf Gal, Prof. Steve Weiner, Dr. Dvir Gur

TA's:

N/A

Course Schedule and Location

Year:

2025

Semester:

First Semester

When / Where:

Tuesday, 11:15 - 13:00, WSoS, Rm B

First Lecture:

05/11/2024

End date:

28/01/2025

Field of Study, Course Type and Credit Points

Chemical Sciences: Seminar; Elective; Regular; 2.00 points
Life Sciences: Seminar; 2.00 points
Life Sciences (Brain Sciences: Systems, Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience Track): Seminar; 2.00 points

Comments

On December 3rd- the course will start at 12:15-14:00 in FGS Room B

Prerequisites

No

Restrictions

Participants:

40

Language of Instruction

English

Registration by

Registration By:04/11/2024

Attendance and participation

Obligatory

Grade Type

Numerical (out of 100)

Grade Breakdown (in %)

Attendance

20%

Interim:

40%

Final:

40%

Evaluation Type

Final assignment

Scheduled date 1

Date / due date

N/A

Location

N/A

Time

-

Remarks

N/A

Estimated Weekly Independent Workload (in hours)

2

Syllabus

Biomineralization Syllabus

1. Biomineralization- overview of the minerals and organic crystals formed by organisms, basic processes and the big questions

2. Crystals, symmetries, structures, polymorphism

3. Crystal growth, nucleation, organic-inorganic interface

4. Crystallization mechanisms

5. Cell biology of mineralization

6. Materials properties of biological tissues

7. Evolution of biomineralization

After the first 6 sessions there will be an interim exam.

8. Coccolithophores and diatoms: mineralizing single celled organisms

9. Echinoderms: exquisite control over crystal formation

10.Bones, teeth and scales: from structure to function

11. Manipulation of light by biogenic minerals and organic crystals (colors, vision and photosynthesis)

After the last 6 sessions, each student will submit a written assignment on a topic of choice from a designated list.

Learning Outcomes

Insights into a field that integrates biology, chemistry and materials science, and has implications to historical sciences such as paleontology, archaeology, paleoclimate, as well as medical fields such as dentistry and orthopaedics.

Reading List

On Biomineralization by H.A. Lowenstam and S. Weiner 1989 (Oxford).

Website

N/A