forms over millions of years in the pore spaces of sedimentary rocks from remains of ocean-dwelling phytoplankton; over time it migrates upward toward the highest point in the porous rock because it is less dense than the rock.
Hereditary hemochromatosis (hee-muh-kro-muh-TOE-sus) is a genetic disease that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron. Iron is an important nutrient that our bodies get from food.
Alkaptonuria (AKU) is an inborn error of metabolism: a genetic disease caused by a lack of the enzyme homogentisate dioxygenase (HGD). Without HGD, patients cannot break down protein to amino acids, such as tyrosine and phenylalanine, which causes a build up of homogentisic acid (HGA) in the bones, cartilage and urine.