Mycology: The overlooked but obvious process of fungal-induced fossil biomineralization

Katarzyna Turnau

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.017

Mycology: The overlooked but obvious process of fungal-induced fossil biomineralization

Curr Biol. 2023 Jun 19;33(12):R679-R681. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.017.

Author

Katarzyna Turnau¹

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.turnau@uj.edu.pl.

PMID: 37339594
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.05.017

Abstract

The ability of fungi to mineralize substrates is a common but underestimated phenomenon. Now, researchers have demonstrated the usefulness of this process in fossilization by documenting the formation of hydroxyapatite nanofibres. This opens new avenues in palaeomycology and palaeontology.

MeSH terms

Biomineralization*
Fossils
Fungi*
Mycology