King Scallop

Alex Cagan | Drawing | Curious Nature

Scallop fishing is an important part of the UK fisheries sector. The king scallop lives on algae, which can lead to build-up of an acid that is very harmful to humans if consumed. Analysing its genome may help with understanding toxin resistance. Aside from studying the danger of Amnesiac Shellfish Poisoning, the king scallop is curious because its two shell valves are differently coloured. Its genetics can help us to understand how colour has evolved in the natural world.