what do potatoes wood and lobster shells have in common

What Do Potatoes Wood and Lobster Shells Have in Common? The Surprising Shared Trait

At first glance, potatoes wood and lobster shells don’t seem to have much in common. After all, potatoes are edible tubers that grow underground. Wood comes from trees. And lobster shells are the hard outer coverings that crustaceans discard. But surprisingly, these very different materials all contain significant amounts of the same molecule – chitin!

Chitin is an amazing natural substance that plays crucial structural roles across the biological world Keep reading to learn more about what chitin is, what it does, and why this versatile biomolecule can be found in such peculiar places as potato cell walls, tree trunks, and crustacean exoskeletons.

What is Chitin?

Chitin is a long, durable polysaccharide made up of chains of N-acetylglucosamine, a glucose-derived sugar. In more scientific terms, chitin consists of β-1,4-linked linear polymers of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. The name “chitin” comes from the Greek word for mollusk shell or armor, referring to its common presence and purpose in nature.

Specifically, chitin is the main component of the hard outer shells and skeletons of insects, crustaceans like lobsters and crabs, and fungi. It provides crucial structural support and protection. After cellulose, chitin is the second most plentiful natural biopolymer on Earth! Annual chitin production is estimated at 10-100 billion tons.

Key Properties and Uses of Chitin

• Structural stability – The long molecular chains and chemical bonds give chitin tremendous strength and rigidity for forming protective exoskeletons.

• Durability – Chitin is highly resistant to degradation, allowing it to persist in ecosystems.

• Water resistance – Chitin repels water, keeping organisms dry.

• Flexibility – Chitin can be chemically modified to add flexibility, seen in insect wing joints.

• Medical uses – Chitin is biocompatible and antimicrobial, so it can be used to make wound dressings, sutures, and more.

• Thickener – Modified chitin acts as a thickening agent and stabilizer in foods and cosmetics.

Chitin in Potatoes

Most people don’t realize that many common vegetables, especially tuber crops like potatoes, contain small but significant amounts of chitin. In potatoes, chitin comprises 0.1-2% of the plant’s dry weight.

In potato cells, chitin is found in the cell walls. It helps provide structural reinforcement as the potato tubers grow underground. The chitin forms crystalline microfibrils that strengthen the cellulose network.

Chitin’s water resistance also likely helps protect potato cells from excess water absorption or dehydration. And some human gut bacteria can even digest potato chitin, producing beneficial byproducts.

Overall, the chitin in potatoes plays an important subtle role in the crop’s growth, development, and nutrition. While concentrations are low, this natural biopolymer shouldn’t be overlooked!

Chitin in Wood

Trees also produce small amounts of chitin in their cell walls, around 1% of dry weight. This likely helps strengthen the cell walls and control water movement.

In trees, chitin occurs mostly in xylem cells, which transport water and nutrients. Reinforced xylem cells allow this vascular system to function efficiently.

Fast-growing softwoods like pine contain up to 5% chitin, which may provide flexibility to prevent xylem collapse as the trees rapidly gain height.

Additionally, wood-decaying fungi must digest through the cell wall chitin using chitinase enzymes. So chitin acts as a durable, resistant barrier even in death for trees.

Chitin in Lobster Shells

Lastly, the structure most famously associated with chitin – the lobster shell. A lobster’s shell makes up around 20% of its body weight. This protective exoskeleton contains about 30% chitin by weight, along with proteins and calcium carbonate.

In lobster shells, chitin forms a complex crystalline molecular matrix interlaced with proteins. This creates a lightweight yet rigid, impact-resistant shell that provides flexibility for growth. Lobsters can even flexibly grow by breaking down and re-depositing chitin in specific regions when needed.

Additionally, chitin gives lobster shells chemical resistance to dissolution in water. It also prevents excess water loss thanks to its waterproof nature. This versatile biomolecule is truly integral to lobsters’ survival from early juvenile stages through adulthood.

Chitin – The Common Thread

While potatoes, wood, and lobster shells seem totally unrelated at first glance, they all contain small but significant amounts of chitin that provides major biological benefits. No matter how low the concentrations, chitin’s structural strength and resilience advantages these organisms in myriad ways.

Nature is full of surprises, and chitin’s diverse uses underscore just how interconnected our world is across landscapes and seascapes. The next time you peel potatoes, examine woodgrain, or crack open a lobster shell, think of the hidden chitin within! This natural biopolymer truly links disparate pieces of our living world.