image: This electron microscope image shows the top part of a sea-dwelling sandcastle worm, Phragmatopoma californica. Living in sloshing intertidal waters, the worm uses its numerous tentacles (upper left) to grab small bits of shell and sand. Tiny hair-like cilia (not visible) move the bits to the pincer-shaped building organ (center). The worm then uses its building organ to build a tube-shaped home around itself by secreting natural glue to cement the sand and shell pieces. University of Utah bioengineers have developed a synthetic version of the worm's glue for possible future use in pasting together shattered bone fragments in the human face and joints like the knees. view more
Credit: Russell Stewart, University of Utah.