One of the main events in the evolution of animals was the transition from soft-bodied organisms to those that possessed mineralized hard parts for protection and support. This major evolutionary hallmark supported the rapid diversification of animals and their occupation of a diverse range of novel ecological niches at the dawn of the Phanerozoic, between 560 and 530 million years ago (mya). The understanding of the evolution of genes and gene regulatory networks that enable and control the construction of mineralized body parts (biominerals) is therefore vital to the understanding of how animals, including humans, evolved and will also provide clues for the fabrication of biomimetic materials (that is, artificial materials designed to mimic natural forms).