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Figure 2
Structure of the prismato-nacreous mollusk shell. (a) Schematic overview of the shell structure. The shell is comprised of a calcareous prismatic and nacreous layer, sandwiched between the organic mantle and periostracum layer. (b) Zoomed-in image of the prismatic layer shows the early stage mineralizing units (discs) sitting on the periostractic membrane and their subsequent, space-filling assembly in the later stages. (c) Further zoom shows a TEM cross-section, showing the layered growth motif under a presumed nucleation centre (bright nodule). (d) Prism–nacre interface in abalone shell by SEM (Birkedal, private communication). (e) Dark-field X-ray microscopy allows the study of lattice rotation and strain in full prismatic assemblies. (f) Bragg ptychography enables the visualization of lattice rotations and strain with very high, sub-100 nm spatial resolution across the full cross-section of an early stage disc. Panels (b) and (c) is reproduced from Duboisset et al. (2022BB47) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), panel (e) is reproduced from Schoeppler et al. (2022BB151) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), and panel (f) is reproduced from Mastropietro et al. [(2017BB107). Nat. Mater. 16, 946–952. Springer Nature].

IUCrJ
Volume 11| Part 5| September 2024| Pages 708-722
ISSN: 2052-2525
https://doi.org/10.1107/S2052252524007838