Oyster genome mystery unravelled

20 September 2012 Last updated at 04:13 ET By Helen Briggs BBC News

A detailed map of the Pacific oyster genome has been unveiled by scientists.

The research, published in the journal Nature, shows how oysters manage to survive the harsh environment of the estuary and sea shore.

The mollusc has scores of genes that protect it from extremes of temperature and saltiness, where the land meets the sea.

Oyster farming is a multi-million dollar industry, centred around China, Japan, Korea and the US.

There's clearly been adaptations over millions of years to allow these animals to cope with an incredibly harsh environment

The genome map gives an insight into how the oyster became adapted to marine life, and how it formed its complex shell.

It also reveals secrets that may help scientists breed faster-growing oysters with a better survival rate.

A team of international scientists, from China, the US, and Europe, carried out the genome sequencing work.

Peter Holland, professor of zoology at the University of Oxford, and a co-author of the research, says the oyster has more than 80 genes that protect the oyster from stress.

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Oyster genome mystery unravelled