A really interesting study looked at the phenotype variation
in a model species P. margaritifera by
examining the three way interaction between the donor oyster, recipient oyster, and the final cultured pear product. This particular species is a good model
because of it’s large range of pearl
colors that is reflected by the large diversity of inner shell color
phenotypes. For this study they observed
this phenotype variation at the macro, micro, and molecular level. Examining this at the molecular level showed
that there were a series of gene encoding proteins, specifically genes related
to aragonite formation, associated with the shell biomineralisation process
that show significant differences in the donor phenotypes. Through a series of
experimental grafting of the donor to recipient oyster species show that there
is high amounts of inter-individual donor phenotype.
For a more in depth analysis of this study see the original paper in Nature here.
-Sam
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