Manganese is a hard and brittle metal, and it's also an essential trace element in the human body. It's involved in enzyme processes in our cells, such as DNA replication. In plants it plays a key role in photosynthesis. This Element of Surprise segment features the following experts: Dr. Martha Mullally, Professor / Coordinator, Biotechnology Program, Carleton University, and Raphael Galea, Senior Research Officer / Radionuclide Metrologist, National Research Council of Canada.

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