Mobilizing molluscan models and genomes in biology

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’.

Bringing Disciplines and People Together to Characterize the Plastic and Genetic Responses of Molluscs to Environmental Change

“…We here highlight a diverse set of Molluscan taxa that provide illustrative examples of response to various environmental stresses. It is important to note that we were unable to find a substantial body of directly relevant data (i.e., evidence for intraspecific genetic variation and/or phenotypic plasticity corresponding to differential phenotypic responses to environmental stresses) from the Molluscan classes Scaphopoda, Monoplacophora, Aplacophora, or Polyplacophora (also see Yang et al 2020 ; Davison and Neiman 2021 ), highlighting that there is still a great deal of work left to do. Nevertheless, we believe that this overview will provide a useful starting point with respect to assessing the potential for adaptive change in molluscs in a rapidly changing world.…”

Integrin Signaling in the Central Nervous System in Animals and Human Brain Diseases

“…Cephalopods (including the east Asian common octopus (Octopus sinensis)) are not only an attractive target for ethologic studies of animals with higher intelligence, but also a promising model for research in genomics [40]. Since cephalopods show regeneration of the arms, shell, and nerves [41,42], integrins of cephalopods may also contribute to these regenerations, as in vertebrates.…”

Pearls of wisdom—a Theo Murphy issue on molluscan genomics

“…Perhaps one of the main challenges affecting the widespread use of molluscs as research organisms is that no individual mollusc species (or, indeed, any animal from the much larger lophotrochozoan group) has emerged as a broadly used model system in biology. In our own contribution to this issue [20], we make the case that both perceptual and methodological barriers have played a role in their relative neglect. We illustrate important research questions to which molluscs can be usefully applied and how the study of model molluscs and their genomes may impact our understanding of this phylum and the much wider group of animal life, as well as considering the barriers that prevent further take-up.…”

“…Finally, one of the ongoing limitations in working with molluscs is that transgenic technologies are poorly developed (featured in [20]), which hinders both fundamental biological discovery and limits the commercial application or control of intermediate vectors of human parasites such as schistosomes. In their review, Potts et al [22] specifically discuss the current state and future potential of genomic technologies to improve disease resistance in aquaculture.…”