is chitin a bony skeleton?
i know chitin is the exoskeleton of things like bugs and horseshoe crabs.
but does this mean it is truly a bony skeleton like that of a human?
i know chitin is the exoskeleton of things like bugs and horseshoe crabs.
but does this mean it is truly a bony skeleton like that of a human?
JimZ
Favorite Answer
No, it is different.
This says it better than me.
Made mostly of collagen, bone is living, growing tissue. Collagen is a protein that provides a soft framework, and calcium phosphate is a mineral that adds strength and hardens the framework. This combination of collagen and calcium makes bone strong and flexible enough to withstand stress. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/default.asp
Exoskeletons contain chitin and when calcium carbonate is added, the exoskeleton grows in strength and hardness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exoskeleton