We are inviting our colleagues and fellow fossil enthusiasts to attend the second series of Nannotalks by the International Nannoplankton Association (INA). The next talk in the second series will be delivered by Jessica Walker from Diamond Light Source Ltd, with a title “Coccolithophore crystal chemistry: polysaccharides and beyond.” The meeting is set to be held on the 16th of May, 2022 (14:00 UTC; 22:00 PhilST). The abstract is posted below:
ABSTRACT
Inside the coccolith vesicle, calcite crystals are nucleated, grown and shaped through biological processes, including cytoskeletal pressure, additives, and controlling solution parameters. The combined impact of each of these processes allows for the wide variety of shapes and designs we see across coccolithophore species. Here, I will discuss the role of polysaccharides and the crystals themselves in the crystallization process, as well as how other contributors such as metal ions may be involved in coccolith formation. I will also explore inter and intra-species variation across these factors.
More details can be found on the INA Facebook page.