Seashells & Skeletons: A Surprising Connection Through Calcium Carbonate

Seashells and the human skeleton are both made of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a mineral that is found in many different organisms, including plants, animals, and algae. In seashells, calcium carbonate is produced by the organism that lives in the shell. In the human skeleton, calcium carbonate is produced by the osteoblasts, which are cells that build new bone.