Scientists figure out how iron-shelled snails live in underwater volcanoes
Image Credit: shortpedia
The mystery of the volcano-dwelling snail and its iron shell has been unraveled by scientists after its genome was decoded for the first time. Researchers have now identified 25 'transcription factors' – proteins that directly interpret the genome – that contribute to the production of tissue-stiffening minerals. The scaly-foot snail survives in the impossible living conditions of underwater volcanic vents.