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Tiny algae shaped the evolution of giant clams
Giant clams, some of the largest mollusks on Earth, have long fascinated scientists. These impressive creatures can grow up to 4.5 feet in length and weigh over
“Giant clams are keystone species in many marine habitats,” said Jingchun Li, the paper’s senior author and professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In collaboration with researchers at the University of Guam and the Western Australian Museum, the team compared the genes of T. maxima with closely related species — such as the common cockle—that lack symbiotic partners. At the same time, T. maxima tuned down some of its immune genes in a way that likely helps the animal tolerate algae living in their body long term, according to Ruiqi Li, the paper’s first author and postdoctoral researcher at the CU Museum of Natural History.
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