Skeleton formation in young corals documented for first time in multidisciplinary study

(Bar-Ilan University) Researchers have identified the biological process of mineralization that occurs in a young coral that shifts from the plankton (swimming) stage to the 'settled' stage in which it forms the skeleton from minerals that protect its colony. The discovery is important for understanding the process of coral reef formation and protecting marine creatures from ecological damage associated with global warming, and could impact new biotechnological developments using coral extractions to regenerate and reconstruct human bones.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news