Methods for producing cultured pearls in conch and other gastropods

Abstract

The subject invention provides methods for producing cultured pearls in gastropods, such as the queen conch, Strombus gigas , and other gastropod species (e.g., families Strombidae, Haliotididae and Volutidae), with high success rates. The subject invention also provides cultured pearls produced by the methods as described herein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of growing a pearl in a gastropod comprising the steps of:
 a) pretreating a recipient gastropod with a relaxant;   b) cutting an incision into the tissue of the recipient;   c) cutting a subepithelial canal through the incision;   d) inserting a mantle tissue piece and/or a nucleus from a donor in the subepithelial canal;   e) culturing the recipient gastropod to obtain a cultured pearl, and   f) harvesting the cultured pearl.   
     
     
         2 . A cultured pearl, produced by a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . The cultured pearl, according to  claim 2 , wherein the cultured pearl is nucleated. 
     
     
         4 . The cultured pearl, according to  claim 2 , wherein the cultured pearl is non-nucleated. 
     
     
         5 . A cultured pearl that comprises one or more molecules of gastropod origin, or which has been produced in a gastropod and has a nucleus that is not found in natural gastropod pearls. 
     
     
         6 . The pearl, according to  claim 5 , which comprises DNA and/or protein of conch origin. 
     
     
         7 . The pearl, according to  claim 5 , comprising a nucleus comprising material from a Mississippi River mollusk. 
     
     
         8 . The pearl, according to  claim 5 , wherein the nucleus comprises a physical, chemical, or radiological taggant. 
     
     
         9 . A container holding at least 5 pearls according to  claim 5 .