Do you see the threads in the photo below that are coming out of the mussel - what in the world are they? You are looking at byssal threads that are produced by the Atlantic Ribbed Mussels (Geukensia demissa). The mussels create, one at a time, a mass of these threads so that they can become firmly attached to a solid substrate. In the marshes on Assateague, the ribbed mussels can be found attached to the roots of marsh grasses and to other mussels. Huge colonies of mussels form around the roots of the marsh grasses; together they form a foundation that is strong enough to support the weight of a horse or human. If you try to rip one of these mussels out of its place in the marsh, you will quickly discover that the byssal threads are very strong. How strong? Consider the achilles tendon in your foot. It allows you to walk, run and jump and still allow your feet to balance your weight. (In other words, it is very, very strong…) The byssal threads produced by a ribbed mussel are about five times as strong! In fact, researchers have been studying byssal threads to better understand how they work. With this knowledge, scientists want to create a material that can be used to make artificial ligaments and tendons that can replace permanently damaged or missing ones in humans.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 10:15:00 +0000
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