Fig. 1. Hierarchically organized chiral biomineralized architectures constructed of calcium carbonate.

(A) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image showing coexistence of adjacent imbricated, calcitic coccolith skeletal-plate layers (cycles) oriented in the clockwise direction centrally (yellow) and in the counterclockwise direction peripherally (green) in Umbilicosphaera foliosa [reprinted with permission from (9)]. (B) Rounded, chiral (clockwise, yellow arrow) pathologic calcium carbonate vaterite otoconia from the inner ear of an aged patient [reprinted with permission from (29)]. (C) Synthetic chiral (clockwise, yellow arrow) suprastructure of hierarchically organized vaterite induced by the amino acid l-Asp as prepared in a laboratory setting.