According to chemist Joanna Aizenberg, the brittle star's dual-purpose shell "demonstrates an important principle: in biology, materials are often optimized for multiple functions."
Go ya ka moitsekhemiseteri e bong Joanna Aizenberg, sekgapha sa brittle star se se dirang ditiro tse pedi se "bontsha ntlha ya botlhokwa: gore mo ditsheding, gantsi dikarolo tsa mmele di diretswe gore di dire ditiro tse dintsi tse di farologaneng ka mo go ka kgonegang ka teng."