Earth & Environment - Thursday, March 25, 2010 11:11 - 0 Comments

Tax loophole for ‘well-tuned’ oysters

USC researchers are working to identify the genes responsible for hybrid vigor: the ability of some children of crossbreeding to outgrow both parents. Most plants have hybrid vigor, but most animals do not to the same extent. That makes oysters, which do show characteristics of hybrid vigor, unusually strong candidates for aquaculture. “Their hybrids grow much faster than either of the parents. And this is like corn,” marine biologist Donal Manahan says. (Courtesy: iStockphoto)

USC (US)—In physical, as in financial growth, it’s not what you make but what you keep that counts. That’s true of oysters and other slow-growing animals that appear to waste energy in two specific ways: They make too much of some protein building blocks and expend energy disposing of the excess. Continue…