{"id":21911,"date":"2026-03-17T09:57:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T08:57:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geowiss.uni-mainz.de\/institut-fuer-geowissenschaften\/biomineralisation\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T18:26:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:26:11","slug":"biomineralisation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.geowiss.uni-mainz.de\/en\/institut-fuer-geowissenschaften\/biomineralisation\/","title":{"rendered":"Biomineralization"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n<\/jgu-base-anchornavigation>\n \n<\/jgu-base-teaserbox><\/jgu-base-heading>\n\n
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The Biomin Research Group investigates biocrystallization processes in microalgae, particularly in dinoflagellates. We aim to understand how these single-celled organisms form highly ordered mineral structures and organic crystals such as calcium carbonate and guanine, and how these processes contribute to the cycling of elements in aquatic ecosystems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To better understand the mechanisms of crystal formation and structural organization, we combine controlled cultivation experiments with modern spectroscopic and imaging methods. Furthermore, we use these biological structures as inspiration for the development of functional bio-based materials. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Biomineralization explores the formation of mineral structures by organisms, thus providing a central key to understanding the interactions between the biosphere and geosphere. It investigates the mechanisms by which living organisms produce inorganic-organic hybrid materials such as calcium carbonate or silicates to adapt to changing environmental conditions, form protective structures, or develop functional properties. Biominerals not only document biological processes but also serve as archives of past environmental and climatic conditions. <\/p>\n\n

For approximately 500 million years, algae, in particular, have shaped our planet’s environment by sequestering CO\u2082 through the precipitation of minerals. These processes lead to an impressive diversity of complex architectures with exceptional morphological properties. A prominent example is the highly ordered, porous calcareous structures of single-celled dinoflagellates, whose regular organization cannot yet be reproduced with current technological methods. The study of such systems allows for the deciphering of fundamental principles of structural formation and, at the same time, provides insights into past environmental conditions. <\/p>\n\n

While the biochemical foundations of biomineral formation in model organisms such as diatoms or coccolithophores are already comparatively well understood, the underlying mechanisms in dinoflagellates remain largely unclear. It is particularly noteworthy that mineral formation does not occur in strictly controlled intracellular compartments but in an extracellular space, the so-called outer matrix. This peculiarity makes dinoflagellates a promising model system \u2013 both for a fundamental understanding of biological structural formation and for the development of biomimetic materials. Biologically produced mesoporous structures represent a particularly attractive class of materials, as they combine complex functionality with high biocompatibility. <\/p>\n\n

Biomineralization is thus at the center of an interdisciplinary research field that connects biology, chemistry, geosciences, and materials science. Through close collaborations with adjacent disciplines, a broad, analytically oriented, and application-focused research and teaching profile is created. Practical laboratory work forms an essential basis, especially in dealing with modern analytical procedures for characterizing biological systems and hydrated, amorphous substances. <\/p>\n\n

Students who wish to specialize in this area acquire a profound understanding of the processes at the interface of animate and inanimate nature. This knowledge opens up diverse career prospects, for example, in environmental and climate research, material development, biogeochemical analytics, or academic research. Corresponding qualifications can be acquired within the geoscientific study programs (B.Sc. and M.Sc.) with appropriate specialization, as well as through a doctorate. <\/p>\n\n

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