Eli5: How/ why do oysters make pearls?
In: 3
Pearls occur where a contaminant like a grain of sand gets inside the shell of the oyster.
Because these particles could cause damage and harm the soft internals of the oyster, the pearl is formed as a defense mechanism – the oyster secretes a special substance that coats the sand or other particle and forms a smooth, hard casing around it, preventing irritation to the oyster.
Over time this secretion builds up and the pearls grow in size as layers get added.
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