This tutorial review provides an overview of bio-directed synthesis of nanomaterials, starting with the foundation of biomineralization research--how organisms are able to biomineralize materials in vivo--and progressing to studies of biomineralization in vitro. This research is of interest to biologists, chemists and materials scientists alike, especially in light of efforts to find 'greener' methods of inorganic material synthesis. Examples of applications of nanomaterials synthesized by these methods are provided to demonstrate the end goals of biomineralization research.