Helical microstructures in molluscan biomineralization are a biological example of close packed helices that may form from a colloidal liquid crystal precursor in a twist–bend nematic phase Berent, Katarzyna Cartwright, Julyan H. E. Checa González, Antonio G. Pimentel, Carlos Sainz Díaz, Claro Ignacio We demonstrate that nature has produced a close-packed helical twisted filamentous material in the biomineralization of the mollusk. In liquid crystals, twist–bend nematics have been predicted and observed. We present and analyze evidence that the helical biomineral microstructure of mollusk shells may be formed from such a liquid-crystal precursor. 2022-11-30T08:02:31Z 2022-11-30T08:02:31Z 2022-10-17 journal article Berent, K... [et al.] (2022). Helical microstructures in molluscan biomineralization are a biological example of close packed helices that may form from a colloidal liquid crystal precursor in a twist–bend nematic phase. Physical Review Materials, 6(10), 105601. DOI: [10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.105601] https://hdl.handle.net/10481/78195 10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.6.105601 eng info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/844345 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ open access Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internacional American Physical Society