• Question: what are bones made out of?

    Asked by v1997 to Asif, Laura, Lena, Sean, Viv on 12 Mar 2012.
    • Photo: Sean Murphy

      Sean Murphy answered on 9 Mar 2012:

      The hard part of bone is made from something called bone mineral, otherwise known as hydroxylapatite. The main component of this is calcium. However, there is much more to bone than the hard parts. Bone also contains a spongy interior, known as bone marrow. Bone marrow contains stem cells which are important for generating your blood and immune system. We are able to isolate bone marrow stem cells and use them to treat many diseases such a leukemia.

    • Photo: Laura Waters

      Laura Waters answered on 12 Mar 2012:

      Bones are amazing as they give our body a shape, imagine your body without bones: you’d be all floppy! Calcium is really important which is why you need lots in your diet, right through your whole life.

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