Study Shows Promise for Bivalves as Model Organisms
Translator
Editor
4 February 2019 13:35 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Maine - Researchers with a Maine marine science center say some shellfish have the ability to contribute to human health, and not just when covered in linguini.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences says a new study in the journal Developmental & Comparative Immunology shows using bivalves, such as oysters and mussels, shows promise for medical research. The lab says the shellfish could potentially help with everything from bone regeneration to the development of new drugs.
The lead author of the paper is José Fernández Robledo, a senior research scientist at Bigelow. He says model organisms such as mice and flies have long been important to scientific research, but bivalves could provide a vital new model.
The lab says the bivalves could help with the development of new techniques to fight disease. Oysters, for example, fend off pathogens without antibodies.
AP
