keratin

     

Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough an insoluble, they form the hard but nonmineralized structures found in reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals. They are rivaled as biological materials in toughness only by chitin.

Trivia about keratin

  • This fibrous protein is the main constituent of the outermost layers of skin, nails & hair
  • A horse's hooves are made up of this protein, the same protein found in your fingernails
  • Hedgehogs are covered with quills or spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff by this protein
  • (Sarah of the Clue Crew in Cape Cod) Baleen, which certain whales have instead of teeth, is composed of mainly this protein, just like hair & fingernails

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