Abstract

Molluscs are among the most ancient, diverse, and important of all animal taxa. Even so, no individual mollusc species has emerged as a broadly applied model system in biology. We here make the case that both perceptual and methodological barriers have played a role in the relative neglect of molluscs as research organisms. We then summarize the current application and potential of molluscs and their genomes to address important questions in animal biology, and the state of the field when it comes to the availability of resources such as genome assemblies, cell lines, and other key elements necessary to mobilising the development of molluscan model systems. We conclude by contending that a cohesive research community that works together to elevate multiple molluscan systems to 'model' status will create new opportunities in addressing basic and applied biological problems, including general features of animal evolution. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Molluscan genomics: broad insights and future directions for a neglected phylum'.

Highlights

  • Molluscs are globally important as sources of food, calcium, and pearls, and as vectors of human disease

  • Molluscs are notable for their remarkable diversity: originating over 500 MA, there are over 70 000 extant mollusc species [1], with molluscs present in virtually every ecosystem

  • What’s missing from molluscan models? that molluscan genome assemblies are relatively straightforward to produce and becoming commonplace, it is worthwhile to consider the barriers that remain towards using these genomic resources to understand the biology of molluscs and beyond

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Summary

Introduction

Molluscs are globally important as sources of food, calcium, and pearls, and as vectors of human disease. Molluscs are notable for their remarkable diversity: originating over 500 MA, there are over 70 000 extant mollusc species [1], with molluscs present in virtually every ecosystem Despite their biological, ecological (e.g. invasive species), economic (e.g. fisheries), and medical importance (e.g. schistosomiasis vector), critical steps towards understanding molluscan biology have been prevented by both general challenges associated with working with molluscs and specific challenges in genome sequencing and assembly. The relative neglect of research on molluscs, including the absence of targeted funds for molluscan genome sequencing, has been problematic for the collective effort This challenge is especially evident that highly contiguous genome assemblies are a starting point for much of modern biology. As there is insufficient space to comprehensively cover each member of this large set of concepts and taxa, we reference authoritative reviews on individual topics or species where appropriate [e.g. 3,13–15]

Making a model mollusc
The potential for genomics in molluscs
Blood-fluke planorb Biomphalaria glabrata: disease prevention
Various bivalves and gastropods: biomineralization
Slipper shell Crepidula: early development
10. Cone snails: bioactive compounds for human benefit
11. What’s missing from molluscan models?
12. Accessible transgenesis
13. Cell culture and immortal cell lines
14. Improved extraction of high-molecular weight DNA
15. Greater diversity in molluscan models
16. Concluding remarks
44. Simakov O et al 2013 Insights into bilaterian
62. Sokolow SH et al 2016 Global assessment of
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