SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Need Help? Call 800-421-0200
  • MY ACCOUNT
  • COMPANY
  • BLOG
  • LOGIN

Jewelry Factory - North Hollywood, CA

Build your Custom Jewelry
  • No products in cart.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Police & Fire Dept. Jewelry
  • Engagement & Wedding
  • Motorsports Jewelry
  • Jewelry Cleaning
  • Categories
  • Cart
  • Home
  • Uncategorized
  • Scientists Are on a Mission to Save the Japanese Pearl Oyster, Pinctada Fucata
 
Howard
Tuesday, 15 November 2022 / Published in Uncategorized

Scientists Are on a Mission to Save the Japanese Pearl Oyster, Pinctada Fucata

Japanese scientists are on a mission to save the species of oyster responsible for producing the world's most beautiful cultured pearls. The Japanese pearl oyster — Pinctada fucata — is fighting for its survival as viruses and red tides have taken a savage toll on oyster populations and, as a result, pearl production in Japan has shrunk by 70% over the past 20 years.

In an effort to preserve the future of the Japanese pearl industry, scientists have constructed a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome of the Pinctada fucata species, which they hope can be used to breed hardier, more resilient mollusks. The research was published recently in DNA Research.

“It’s very important to establish the genome,” said Dr. Takeshi Takeuchi, staff scientist in the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Marine Genomics Unit. “Genomes are the full set of an organism’s genes — many of which are essential for survival. With the complete gene sequence, we can do many experiments and answer questions around immunity and how the pearls form.”

Scientists at the OIST, in collaboration with K. Mikimoto & Co.'s Pearl Research Institute and the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, reconstructed 14 pairs of chromosomes (28 in total) and found key differences between the two chromosomes of one pair—chromosome pair 9. Notably, many of these genes were related to immunity.

“Different genes on a pair of chromosomes is a significant find because the proteins can recognize different types of infectious diseases,” said Dr. Takeuchi.

The scientists believe that the current state of the pearl farming industry is due partly to the lack of genetic diversity in the oyster population. Pearl farmers often breed oysters that have a higher rate or survival or ones that produce more beautiful pearls. But, researchers observed that after three consecutive inbreeding cycles, the genetic diversity was significantly reduced. Genetic deterioration due to the inbreeding of oysters with superior traits makes it difficult for the species to respond to various environmental changes and the emergence of pathogens.

“It is important to maintain the genome diversity in aquaculture populations,” concluded Dr. Takeuchi.

Akoya pearl production is currently 20,000kg (44,092 lbs) per year, down from 70,000kg (154,323 lbs) per year two decades ago. The scientists are hoping to restore an aquaculture industry that was generating 88 billion yen ($630 million) in annual revenue in the early 1990s. Despite diminished numbers, cultured pearls still rank as Japan's second-most-exported marine product, after scallops.

Credit: Image courtesy of K. MIKIMOTO & CO., LTD, Pearl Research Institute.

What you can read next

Welcome to ‘Engagement Season,’ the Most Romantic Time of the Year
Rock Guitarist and LA Rams Super Fan Nita Strauss Earns Championship Ring
Teary-Eyed Jennifer Lopez Whispers to Her 8.5-Carat Green Diamond, ‘You’re Perfect’

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Nearly Perfect 118-Carat Sapphire May Fetch $4.5MM at Phillips’ Hong Kong Sale

    0 comments
  • Archaeologists Unearth UAE’s Oldest Pearling Village; Site Dates Back 1,300 Years

    0 comments
  • Record-Setting Julius Caesar ‘Assassination Coin’ Has Been Returned to Greece

    0 comments
  • Bahrain Gem Lab and MIT to Explore New Methods of Classifying Natural Pearls

    0 comments
  • Music Friday: ‘You Worth More Dan Diamonds, More Dan Gold’ in Sia’s ‘Cheap Thrills’

    0 comments

NEWSLETTER

Stau updated with our latest offers.

CUSTOMER

  • Shipping
  • 30 Day Return Policy
  • Blog

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Police & Fire Dept.
  • Engagement & Wedding

FEEDBACK

We would like to hear from you with any feedback about our website or products.

SUBMIT YOUR FEEDBACK

FOLLOW US

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
© 2019 Jewelry Factory | All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Police & Fire Dept.
  • Engagement & Wedding
TOP