May we conclude with the appreciations of Haeckel (1872a, b) and Thompson
(1942), who concluded that “the form of the sponge spicules is all the more
important and all the more interesting because it has been discussed time and
again in biology” and “the sponge spicule is a typical illustration of the theory of
‘bio-crystallisation’ to form ‘biocrystals’ ein Mittelding between an inorganic
crystal and an organic secretion.” What they did not anticipate is that biosilica is
likely to become a prime raw material of this millennium (M€ uller et al. 2006a); the
global market for silica has been estimated to amount to around two billion dollars
per year (Kendall 2000).
Acknowledgments This work was supported by grants from the German Bundesministerium f€ ur
Bildung und Forschung (project “Center of Excellence BIOTECmarin”), the International Human
Frontier Science Program, the European Commission (project no. 031541 – BIO-LITHO [biomineralization for lithography and microelectronics]), the Basic Scientific Research Program in China
(Grant No. 200607CSJ-05), and the International S & T Cooperation Program of China (Grant No.
2008DFA00980).
References
Alexander RM (1979) The invertebrates. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Anbar AD, Knoll AH (2002) Proterozoic ocean chemistry and evolution: a bioinorganic bridge?
Science 297:137–1142
Aouacheria A, Geourjon C, Aghajari N, Navratil V, Deleage G, Lethias C, Exposito JY (2006)
Insights into early extracellular matrix evolution: spongin short chain collagen-related proteins
are homologous to basement membrane type IV collagens and form a novel family widely
distributed in invertebrates. Mol Biol Evol 23:2288–2302
Barnes RD (1987) Invertebrate zoology. Saunders, Philadelphia
Berner EK, Berner RA (1996) Global environment: water, air, and geochemical cycles. Prentice
Hall, New York
Bond C, Harris AK (1988) Locomotion of sponges and its physical mechanism. J Exp Zool
246:271–284
Bramm E, Binderup L, Arrigoni-Martelli E (1980) Inhibition of adjuvant arthritis by intraperitoneal administration of low doses of silica. Agents Actions 10:435–438
Brasier M, Green O, Shields G (1997) Ediacarian sponge spicule clusters from southwest
Mongolia and the origins of the Cambrian fauna. Geology 25:303–306
Canfield DE, Farquhar J (2009) Animal evolution, bioturbation, and the sulphate concentration of
the oceans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:8123–8127
Cha JN, Shimizu K, Zhou Y, Christianssen SC, Chmelka BF, Stucky GD, Morse DE (1999)
Silicatein filaments and subunits from a marine sponge direct the polymerization of silica and
silicones in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:361–365
Chang XY, Chen LZ, Hu SX, Wang JH, Zhu BQ (2007) Isotopic dating of the Chengjiang faunabearing horizon in central Yunnan province, China. Chin J Geochem 26:345–349
Custo ´dio MR, Prokic I, Steffen R, Koziol C, Borojevic R, Br€ ummer F, Nickel M, M€ uller WEG
(1998) Primmorphs generated from dissociated cells of the sponge Suberites domuncula: a
model system for studies of cell proliferation and cell death. Mech Ageing Dev 105:45–59
Deprat J, Mansuy H (1912) Etude Ge ´ologique du Yun-nan oriental. Ge ´ologie ge ´ne ´rale. Me ´moires
du Service Ge ´ologique de l’Indochine, vol 1, Atlas of 45 geological profiles and maps.
Extre `me-Orient, Hanoi-Haiphong, 370 pp
276
W.E.G. M€ uller et al.
(1942), who concluded that “the form of the sponge spicules is all the more
important and all the more interesting because it has been discussed time and
again in biology” and “the sponge spicule is a typical illustration of the theory of
‘bio-crystallisation’ to form ‘biocrystals’ ein Mittelding between an inorganic
crystal and an organic secretion.” What they did not anticipate is that biosilica is
likely to become a prime raw material of this millennium (M€ uller et al. 2006a); the
global market for silica has been estimated to amount to around two billion dollars
per year (Kendall 2000).
Acknowledgments This work was supported by grants from the German Bundesministerium f€ ur
Bildung und Forschung (project “Center of Excellence BIOTECmarin”), the International Human
Frontier Science Program, the European Commission (project no. 031541 – BIO-LITHO [biomineralization for lithography and microelectronics]), the Basic Scientific Research Program in China
(Grant No. 200607CSJ-05), and the International S & T Cooperation Program of China (Grant No.
2008DFA00980).
References
Alexander RM (1979) The invertebrates. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Anbar AD, Knoll AH (2002) Proterozoic ocean chemistry and evolution: a bioinorganic bridge?
Science 297:137–1142
Aouacheria A, Geourjon C, Aghajari N, Navratil V, Deleage G, Lethias C, Exposito JY (2006)
Insights into early extracellular matrix evolution: spongin short chain collagen-related proteins
are homologous to basement membrane type IV collagens and form a novel family widely
distributed in invertebrates. Mol Biol Evol 23:2288–2302
Barnes RD (1987) Invertebrate zoology. Saunders, Philadelphia
Berner EK, Berner RA (1996) Global environment: water, air, and geochemical cycles. Prentice
Hall, New York
Bond C, Harris AK (1988) Locomotion of sponges and its physical mechanism. J Exp Zool
246:271–284
Bramm E, Binderup L, Arrigoni-Martelli E (1980) Inhibition of adjuvant arthritis by intraperitoneal administration of low doses of silica. Agents Actions 10:435–438
Brasier M, Green O, Shields G (1997) Ediacarian sponge spicule clusters from southwest
Mongolia and the origins of the Cambrian fauna. Geology 25:303–306
Canfield DE, Farquhar J (2009) Animal evolution, bioturbation, and the sulphate concentration of
the oceans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 106:8123–8127
Cha JN, Shimizu K, Zhou Y, Christianssen SC, Chmelka BF, Stucky GD, Morse DE (1999)
Silicatein filaments and subunits from a marine sponge direct the polymerization of silica and
silicones in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 96:361–365
Chang XY, Chen LZ, Hu SX, Wang JH, Zhu BQ (2007) Isotopic dating of the Chengjiang faunabearing horizon in central Yunnan province, China. Chin J Geochem 26:345–349
Custo ´dio MR, Prokic I, Steffen R, Koziol C, Borojevic R, Br€ ummer F, Nickel M, M€ uller WEG
(1998) Primmorphs generated from dissociated cells of the sponge Suberites domuncula: a
model system for studies of cell proliferation and cell death. Mech Ageing Dev 105:45–59
Deprat J, Mansuy H (1912) Etude Ge ´ologique du Yun-nan oriental. Ge ´ologie ge ´ne ´rale. Me ´moires
du Service Ge ´ologique de l’Indochine, vol 1, Atlas of 45 geological profiles and maps.
Extre `me-Orient, Hanoi-Haiphong, 370 pp
276
W.E.G. M€ uller et al.