Source: Global Seafood Alliance, written by Darryl Jory; research by Luca Peruzza (November 10, 2026). AI-generated summary by biochip.com, published . Not independently reviewed.
Key takeaways
- The publicly available chip profiles roughly 63,000 genetic markers across Manila clams and grooved carpet shells.
- In tests of 384 clams, more than 95 percent of samples passed quality checks, and the chip helped confirm Manila clam parentage.
- Further validation is needed, and the study does not establish which markers determine traits such as growth or disease resistance.
Researchers have built and tested the first medium-density DNA chip designed for both the Manila clam and the grooved carpet shell, two commercially important European species. The chip checks about 63,000 genetic markers across the clams’ genomes, giving researchers and hatcheries a shared way to study family relationships and population differences. In tests on 384 clams, more than 95 percent of samples passed quality checks. The publicly available tool could support breeding research and monitoring of wild and farmed stocks, though more validation is needed.
A shared genetic tool for two clam species
The chip measures single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), small differences at individual DNA letters. Think of them as landmarks spread across a long genetic map: checking many landmarks helps researchers compare animals across much of their genomes rather than relying on a handful of traits.
To choose markers for the chip, the team used a high-quality genome map for the Manila clam and an existing map for the grooved carpet shell. It screened millions of possible DNA differences and selected roughly 49,000 markers for the Manila clam and 14,000 for the grooved carpet shell.
The platform can produce consistent genetic profiles for uses such as parentage checks, comparisons among populations, and tracking genetic diversity. The study’s corresponding author, Dr. Luca Peruzza, said the markers could also support research into traits including growth, disease resistance, and tolerance to environmental stress.
Testing the chip
The researchers analyzed 288 Manila clams collected from wild European sites and a French hatchery, along with 96 grooved carpet shells from Portugal, Sardinia, and Venice. More than 95 percent of the samples passed standard quality checks, and about two-thirds of the markers in each species panel performed well enough for further research.
The genetic results distinguished clams from different locations. In Manila clam families, the chip also helped identify which parents produced particular offspring: mismatches were low when the proposed parents were correct and rose sharply when they were not. That makes the tool useful for checking family relationships in breeding programs.
Why This Matters
Both species have faced steep declines. Manila clam landings in the Venice lagoon fell from about 40,000 tonnes annually in the early 2000s to fewer than 3,000 metric tons by 2019, while native grooved carpet shell stocks declined an estimated 70 percent from their early-1990s peak. The raw material identifies marine heatwaves, habitat loss, overharvesting, and competition as factors implicated in those losses.
Reliable genetic comparisons could help researchers monitor how stock transfers, restocking, or breeding affect diversity. The tool may also help breeders identify animals for future studies of useful traits, but the chip itself does not show which DNA markers cause faster growth or greater resilience. Those links require data connecting genetic profiles to measured traits.
What comes next
The array is publicly available and can be ordered commercially, allowing different research groups and hatcheries to generate comparable data. The researchers say the grooved carpet shell panel is still relatively thin, and additional sequencing could add markers to improve its coverage.
Further validation and studies linking many more animals’ genetic profiles to real-world traits will determine how well the platform can guide breeding decisions. For now, it gives researchers a practical genome-wide tool for studying parentage and genetic variation in two clam species important to European aquaculture.
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