TIE: 2021 In the Lab Student Winners: Starry Skeleton

Photo by Dawn Raja Somu, graduate student, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

The image shows a 3D model generated from a nano-computerized tomography (nano-CT) of an Acantharian skeleton using Dragonfly ORS Software. Acantharia are marine planktonic organisms whose skeleton is made up of strontium sulfate mineral. The intricate shape of its skeleton is achieved through the controlled interaction of mineral and organic components within the cell. The structure of the skeleton and the arrangement of the spicules can shed light on how the organism is able to create complex structures. Through such work, we hope to understand the form of Acantharian endoskeleton (across several species) and extrapolate on possible growth mechanism.