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Perfect Pearl, The
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Program Overview
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The pearl—the only gem produced by a living animal—has
long carried a certain allure. Yet the best mollusk for making this
gem—the pearl oyster—doesn't always produce a pearl, and
even then, the pearls are rarely perfectly round. It wasn't until
the late nineteenth century, when a Japanese scientist discovered a
technique to incite oysters to produce these gems, that an industry
was formed.
Inducing an oyster to create a pearl is only half the
battle—the oyster then needs a nutrient-rich, open environment
in which to grow. This NOVA program looks at the science of pearl
farming, follows efforts of oyster farmers trying to cope with
growing problems of pollution and overcrowding, and considers the
shifting sands of dominance within the pearl industry.
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