health status and genetic variations of the bivalve, pinctada radiate affected by environmental pollution

ABSTRACT

The bivalve shellfish Pinctada radiate is a popular edible food for Alexandria local communities. In an attempt to track the quality of marine water of two different locations along Alexandria coast of Egypt we measured the RNA/DNA ratio and acetyl cholinesterase [AChE] activity in the haemolymph of this organism. The study showed an average ratio for RNA/DNA of 3.3, arranged as follows; 4.34 at El-Max > 2.8 at Miami localities. These results suggest that the coastal water of Alexandria is considered as unpolluted with examined insecticides in this research