2006-06-30 01:33:49 · 29 answers · asked by deadman_walking_1205 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced by certain animals, primarily mollusks such as oysters.
2006-06-30 01:35:29 · answer #1 · answered by Jim51 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pearl is created within the shell of a certain bivalve mollusk, the oyster. It's important to first realize that these are live animals and are thus capable of responding to environmental stimuli like physical irritants. If a piece of sand gets trapped within their shells and against their soft tissues, it can become irritating. In response, their mechanism of clearing the scratchy irritation is to secrete a calcium carbonate (chalk)-based substance called nacre and coat the particle in this smooth substance. They will deposit the nacre, layer by layer, for as long as they live, and by the end of their lives, a pearl is fully formed.
PS: Regarding the answer above mine: It is true that squid are mollusks, but they do not produce pearls. Not all mollusks produce pearls. Only bivalves (shelled mollusks) have the ability.
2006-06-30 10:49:20 · answer #2 · answered by Girl Biologist 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pearls come from oysters. They are actually dirts that oysters come in contact with but they got to be covered with the pearl material with time so that the original dirt's rough surface will not be painful to the oyster. :)
2006-06-30 08:37:49 · answer #3 · answered by Jo Ann 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a grain of sand gets stuck between the oyster and its shell and the oyster secretes a substance that covers the sand grain and over time the secretion's build up to form a pearl.
2006-06-30 08:57:34 · answer #4 · answered by david_74056 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a grain of sand enters an oyster and then takes several years to become a pearl
2006-06-30 08:38:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sand lodge in the body of an oyster.
The oyster tries to protect it's self by forming a coating over the surface of the foreign particle,
which continues to grow over time into a Pearle.
Steve
2006-06-30 08:39:08 · answer #6 · answered by STEVE S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pearls come from molluscs - e.g. squids, clams, oysters.
When dirt gets stuck in the outer skin of the animal, a hard substance forms around it, and this makes the pearl.
2006-06-30 09:18:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
natural pearls oysters generic pearls china
2006-07-01 03:26:39 · answer #8 · answered by Villain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Natural pearls comes from oysters, and other mollusks.
2006-06-30 08:36:19 · answer #9 · answered by WC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oysters. They are irritated and secreat a fluid to surround the sand particle or speck. But the fluid hardens and they keep on secreating. This can be "cultured" by introducing grains into an oyster on purpose
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2006-06-30 08:40:49 · answer #10 · answered by helixburger 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋