Pulling Teeth

Battered by waves, limpets hang on for dear life – using rows of teeth for a tight suction to the underside of boats and rocks. The teeth of the common limpet (Patella vulgata) are made from the strongest known substance in the world – a composite material of chitin and goethite – which scientists might put to new uses. In this animation based on X-ray computed tomography, teeth producing cells called radula are highlighted in a weaving white line – later rainbow colours highlight different levels of mineralization as teeth develop. Researchers aiming to recreate these impressive gnashers, pull the cells and tissues into a lab dish, guiding the growth of this strong material with chemicals. The limpet’s teeth could one day inspire a building material for implants, or in tiny scaffolds, helping human cells to heal against the turbulent currents inside the body.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Video from work by Robin M. H. Rumney and colleagues
• School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, St Michael’s Building, White Swan Road, Portsmouth, UK
• Video originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
• Published in Nature Communications, July 2022