Internet Journal of Emerging Medical Technologies

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Viruses Help Scientists to Track Tooth and Bone Mineralization

Posted on July 11, 2008

At the National Institute of Standards and Technology scientists are using a technique called phage display to track the formation of hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate compound that makes up teeth and bones.Although they have somewhat different mechanical properties, the major structural component of both teeth and bones is a crystalline compound of calcium phosphate called hydroxyapatite. Subtle variations in the way the crystal forms account for the differences. Identifying and monitoring the formation of this particular crystal is of paramount importance to biomedical researchers workin...

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amino acids , calcium , proteins