Towards selective breeding of pearl oysters - quantitative and population genetics of the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima

成功的选择性育种计划依赖于两个关键因素：i)对支持重要商业性状表型表达的遗传过程的了解；ii)保留家系的可靠方法，以便控制近亲交配率。该项目将利用现代定量和分子遗传学方法，首次产生关于遗传对银唇珍珠母贝的生长和珍珠质量特征所起作用的基本信息。当这个项目的成果被整合到该物种的选择性育种计划中时，将极大地改变这个有价值的行业的国际竞争力。

Successful selective breeding programs rely on two critical factors; i) an understanding of the genetic processes underpinning phenotypic expression of commercially important traits and ii) a reliable method to retain pedigrees so that the rate of inbreeding can be controlled. This project will utilise modern quantitative and molecular genetic approaches to generate for the first time fundamental information on the role genetics has on growth and pearl quality traits in the silver-lipped pearl oyster Pinctada maxima. Outcomes from this project when integrated into a selective breeding program for this species will dramatically transform the international competitiveness of this valuable industry.