Published on: 2026-08-19
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Wool socks, antelope horns, and horse hooves — what do they have in common? Living nature uses an important universal component to create them — the protein keratin. Until November 15, in State Darwin Museum with the support of the State Museum of Animal Husbandry named after E.F. Liskun of the Russian State Agrarian University — Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev, an exhibition is being held “From claws to the tips of the hair”, where you can learn about the structure, functions, and significance of keratin. We explain why this is interesting and useful for everyone to know.
The multifaceted nature of keratin: both flexible hair and a strong shell
The exhibition features over 150 exhibits from museum collections: objects of taxidermic art, specimens, and rare paleontological finds. Rarities that will surely amaze include preserved wool of a mammoth and bison, as well as the skull of a woolly rhinoceros.
The synthesis of science and art is provided by the works of Soviet animal painters: Vasily Vatagin, Konstantin Flerov, and Vadim Trofimov. There is also a section of decorative and applied arts at the exhibition featuring items made from horn and tortoise shell.
The idea of the project is to show how one biological material takes on radically different forms and acquires opposite mechanical properties. The structure of keratin can provide both the ultra-softness of chinchilla down and the hardness of a turtle’s shell. Visitors can explore the features of human hair structure, the mechanisms behind graying, as well as the specifics of horn growth in mammals. Keratin is one of the key materials in forming adaptations to the most diverse conditions: from the curved claws of sloths, which spend most of their lives in trees, to the widely spaced hooves of the sitatunga antelope, which help it move through swampy terrain.
The exhibition curator Irina Eliseikina explains the choice of the project’s key theme: “The protein keratin is very widely distributed in nature, forming nails, claws, hooves, horns, scales, shells, fur, feathers, hair, and baleen plates. People don’t often think about this in everyday life. At the exhibition, you can learn unusual facts about familiar things.”
For the most inquisitive guests interested in the biochemistry of the process, a specialized digital section has been organized. “Information about the structure of keratin molecules is placed in a computer kiosk. Chemical formulas will probably not be of interest to everyone, but for those who want to understand in detail, such an opportunity exists,” notes Irina Yeliseikina.
Thin six and a miracle in feathers
An important part of the project was the collaboration with the E.F. Liskun State Museum of Animal Breeding, which provided unique agricultural and natural specimens.
“The Livestock Museum provided important exhibits. Among them are a black lamb of the Karakul breed and three rare samples of sheep wool, including from the Krasnoyarsk fine-fleeced breed (fine wool),” reports the curator.
A miracle in feathers — the exhibition features this and even more than one. And they are by no means mythical. The paleontological section is dedicated to the evolution of the feather covering, with many interesting details about the structure of feathered dinosaurs. Visitors will be able to see reconstructions of Yutyrannus, the largest known feathered reptile, and Microraptor, which had a feather covering on all four limbs. Another striking exhibit is a stuffed Phoenix breed rooster: the length of its tail feathers reached 10 meters. Science and nature often amaze the imagination far more than fantastic tales and myths.
“My impression and amazement at the exhibits can be expressed like this: I simply marvel at the amazing beauty of nature and try to convey this through the exhibition. By telling about keratin squirrel, we tell about the diversity of the animal world,” the curator continues.
From living armor to corsets
The engineering capabilities of protein in defense and food acquisition amaze even scientists. One of the most interesting parts of the exhibition is the section of living armor. Here are collected turtle shells, crocodile horny shields, pangolin and armadillo scales, as well as hedgehog spines.
The exhibition concludes with a section dedicated to baleen — the horn-like plates in the mouths of baleen whales, which they use to filter plankton. In past centuries, this flexible and durable material was highly valued: it was used to make corsets, umbrellas, and frames. Fortunately, today this trade has been stopped — synthetic polymers have completely replaced baleen.
Touching keratin: soft, warm, prickly, and hard
Both children and adults hurry to the tactile zone, where they can compare the texture of samples of horsehair, bristles, felt, as well as sheep and camel wool, mohair, and cashmere by touch.
The first vertical panel contains real samples of rabbit fur, stiff boar bristles, and snake skin. The second stand demonstrates household applications of keratin fibers: paintbrushes, horsehair brushes for ski maintenance, woolen cloth, and felt that can be tested by trying on a felt mitten. The third panel holds samples of yarn made from sheep and camel wool, goat down, mohair, cashmere, and Angora rabbit fur.
Macro- and microcosm of the exhibition
Large figures of white and brown bears, as well as a stuffed giant turtle more than one meter long, invariably evoke delight in children and curiosity in adults. In the “Horns” section, attention should be paid to the rhinoceros horns, which, it turns out, are fundamentally different from the bony structures of other mammals. They consist of dense bundles of keratin, simply put, they are fused hairs.
Visitors are especially attracted to the hummingbird display: here you can examine the microstructure of the feathers with their characteristic metallic sheen.
Why is this necessary
Biological knowledge is closely connected with everyday life and health care. The condition of a person’s hair, nails, and skin directly depends on the integrity of the bonds in keratin molecules, which are disrupted by coloring, chemical perming, and thermal processing. If the hair is brittle and split, the problem lies in the keratin.
“Knowledge about keratin is useful in everyday life — primarily for personal care, as well as in a broader understanding of a healthy lifestyle. Our body synthesizes it from amino acids obtained from protein-rich food. If the diet lacks these components, synthesis is disrupted — and this immediately affects hair, nails, and skin,” explains the curator of the exhibition.
And it’s also very harmful to bite your nails.
“Some people have a habit of biting their hair or nails in certain situations. And keratin protein is not digested, it can accumulate in the stomach and cause great harm to health,” notes Irina Yeliseikina.
The exhibition “From Claws to Hair Tips” constructs a logical chain of understanding: from grasping evolutionary mechanisms and biochemistry through visual and tactile exhibits to applied knowledge necessary for everyone. It is especially interesting and useful for schoolchildren — it is an excellent exercise in thinking before the new school year.
Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased through the service Mosbilet.
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