[neilep (OP)]

Dearest Peeps Who know stuff and Know it well !

Pearls are great !!..Pear necklaces even better !! []

But why do mollusc's produce pearly goodness ?...what use does it have for them ?...does removal of pearl mean the demise of the pearl maker ?

Me wants to know cos me wants to know !!

[Karen W.]

The pearl is usually formed around a grain of sand, or pariste or other foreign object.. Perhaps this is a way to protect itself, who knows..I am no pearl expert, but that certainly is an interesting question!

[neilep (OP)]

THANK YOU KAREN...so what is the purpose !!..is it just a bit of ' bling ' to add glitz to an irritant ?

[Karen W.]

Maybe it is like our body that surrounds a virus with antibodies to fight off a foreign invader, like the flu. perhaps it forms a shield around objects to imprison them and protect them selves aas perhaps they can't exactly " Spit it out!"

[Gaia]

Karen, I believe you've answered Neil's question!

[Karen W.]

Am I close to the truth or just way way out of the ball park..?? If I am right it was purely a very lucky guess...maybe some common sense who knows! Is that really close?

[daveshorts]

I don't think that a pearl is made of antibodies, it is possible they are involved in the initiation of it's creation. I believe that the oyster, muscle (or other bivalve) will tend to deposit the same material that the inside of it's shell is made of - nacre or mother of pearl - on something that irritates it such as a grain of sand. For some reason it doesn't stop once it is covered the sand and the mother of pearl keeps building up until you get a pearl.

Mother of pearl is lots of layers of calcium carbonate (similar mineral to limestone) interleaved with a protein called conchiolin. You get interesting interference patterns between light reflecting from the layers of the pearl, causing the cool irridescent pearl effect.

[Karen W.]

ANTIBODIES?? WHo said antibodies LOL Have I missed something...? HEE HEE!

[moonfire]

4 posts up

[another_someone]

Pearls are great !!..Pear necklaces even better !! []

You like pear necklaces?  Certainly pears are cheaper than pearls, but how do you keep them fresh (or is this the ultimate ephemeral item of jewellery)?

[science_guy]

What?

You cant see the "l" that is the same color as the backround?[]

[neilep (OP)]

Pearls are great !!..Pear necklaces even better !! []

You like pear necklaces?  Certainly pears are cheaper than pearls, but how do you keep them fresh (or is this the ultimate ephemeral item of jewellery)?

....yep..I did notice that but could not be bothered (lethargic mode) and it surprises me no end that George (are you back ?) picked up on it !!  []

[Karen W.]

LOL>>> You are so funny! Hi guys pearls are very pretty!

[another_someone]

George (are you back ?)

Nope, I am front []

[neilep (OP)]

George (are you back ?)

Nope, I am front []

Oh FRONT !!!..sorry..I thought you said something else !!..(sorry)

George....be you front or back....we're all just glad you've returned !!..and clearly with some serious processing power !!..dans votre tête et votre PC !!....

[Karen W.]

George (are you back ?)

Nope, I am front []

I love it Good job George! LOL My kind of humor indeed!

[Karen W.]

Hey Neil and George why is Another someone's name cut off at the lefton every post. anyone notice that but me. Please check.. The E is cut off!