I am forwarding a question from an MD in Chicago for the learned on this list.

"Dear Kevin,

I have kind of an out-of-the-blue question for you. I am a
biochemical researcher at Rush university in Chicago working on
characterizing the changes that occur in articular surfaces with
aging and onset of osteoarthritis. There has been a series of
articles over the past decade or so that describe enzymes isolated
from what the authors only describe as Patinopecten or Patnopecten.
 From my snooping around I found Patinopecten yessoensis, or a
japanese sea scallop. Given its a japanese group that published the
paper I would guess this is what they used. My question to you is is
there a source of this scallop in north america or, alternately, is
there a member of the same genus here??? Is there any info on these
guys that may help me??

Any help you could lend would very much be appreciated. I enclosed a
copy of the first paper by this group. I believe patnopecten to be a
typo for patinopecten...you agree?

thanks in advance,

Jeff
__________________________________
Jeffrey A. Borgia
Department of Biochemistry
Rush Medical College, 402 Senn
1653 W. Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 942-2210 (office)
(312) 942-3053 (fax)"

--
Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey