Calcification in Biological Systems provides a collection of up-to-date papers regarding calcification in a variety of biological systems. The papers are not simple reviews of the literature. Each paper reflects the personal experience of the author(s) and is rich in constructive criticism and suggestions. Topics range from basic molecular processes to general structural problems in systems as different as unicellular organisms and human skeletal tissues. Because calcification is so diffuse in the animal kingdom, this book makes no attempt to achieve a conclusive synthesis of available...

This book follows a precursor volume devoted to biological calci?cation, - sued by the CRC Press, Boca Raton (Florida) in 1992. Several basic aspects of the calci?cation process were analyzed in it by outstanding authors who had unquestioned competence in their respective research areas. Its main aim was that of giving readers access to a series of papers which, even though they discussed divergent aspects of biological calci?cations drawn from the study of systems as different as vertebrate skeletons and mollusks, in vitro cultures and unicellular organisms, ectopic calci?cation and urinary...

The calcified tissues have fundamental functions in the biology of organisms, not only because their strength, solidity, and elasticity permit movement and mechanical activities, and protect soft tissues against traumatic forces, but also on account of their role in mineral homeostasis. For this reason, extensive investigation in the last 30 years has provided much to explain the complex chemical and physical processes occurring in cells and matrices composing the skeleton, and their alterations in pathological conditions. The use of ultrastructural methods such as immunocytochemistry,...

This book follows a precursor volume devoted to biological calci?cation, - sued by the CRC Press, Boca Raton (Florida) in 1992. Several basic aspects of the calci?cation process were analyzed in it by outstanding authors who had unquestioned competence in their respective research areas. Its main aim was that of giving readers access to a series of papers which, even though they discussed divergent aspects of biological calci?cations drawn from the study of systems as different as vertebrate skeletons and mollusks, in vitro cultures and unicellular organisms, ectopic calci?cation and urinary...