Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Fish Scale Chemistry 
Name: Theresa G.
Status: N/A
Age: 15 
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001281
Question:
what are the contents of fish scales? I want to know what are the different compounds in fish scales as I am going to do a project on them. Thank you.

Replies:
I am going to guess that most of the fish scale is built from proteins...probably not too dissimilar to keratin, but I would check an ichthyology book.

Peter Faletra Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Science Education
Office of Science
Department of Energy

They are mostly a protein called keratin. This is the protein that makes up horns, claws (fingernails), hair, and feathers.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois

A fisheries biologist tells me there are few studies on scales; the best he can tell me is that they are from 41% to 84% organic protein (collagen and ichthylepidin) and the remainder mineral residue and inorganic salts like magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate.

J. Elliott

Click here to return to the Zoology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory