The researchers suspect that only five or
six genes will be responsible for getting
the best cosmetic pearls.
Image: iStockphoto
Producing the perfect pearl will soon be a lot easier.
Researchers at JCU have reached a milestone in their project to identify the genes responsible for creation of gem quality, highly desirable, South Sea pearls. The researchers have just completed the most comprehensive sequencing to date of the pearl oyster genome.
The ultimate aim of the project is to identify the genes that are responsible for characteristics of a pearl, such as colour, shape and lustre. Once these genes have been identified it will allow for the first time oysters that have the right combination of genes to be selectively bred to produce the pearls of the highest quality. Pearl farmers will then only grow oysters with that gene sequence.
Project leader, Dr Dean Jerry from JCU’s Department of Aquaculture said the latest discovery is a major step towards achieving this goal.
“We’ve essentially got a list of all the genes that the oyster uses to produce a pearl and now we just need to identify which of those genes make the nicest pearls,” Dr Jerry said.
“Basically, we’ll be testing each gene in thousands of oysters to identify just five or six genes that make the pearl round, shiny and a pure gold colour.”
“Making a pearl is a very complex process and is also very costly. A pearl farmer can produce many pearls before he comes across one that’s of substantially high quality. We’re hoping to greatly improve the percentage of gem quality, high value pearls that are produced,” Dr Jerry said.
This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage Projects in partnership with Australian pearl company Atlas South Sea Pearl.
The pearl industry is worth $350 million in Australia alone.
Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.
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