Dear Ken,

   Alan Kohn mentioned that the test of sea squirts is mainly cellulose. If so, I wonder if the enzyme cellulase might be effective in dissolving it.

   I once tried cellulase for dissolving leaf litter (to facilitate extracting micro snails) but the method failed. I learned later that leaves are only 40% cellulose, the rest being hemicellulose and lignin.

   By the way, the lamp on my bedside table has a base filled with shells that your mother kindly made for me. Pleasant memories.

   Good luck with the sea squirts. Best wishes,   -Tim-



Timothy A. Pearce, Ph.D., Asst. Curator & Head, Section of Mollusks

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

4400 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213-4080, USA

ph 412-622-1916; fax 412-622-8837; [log in to unmask]

www.carnegiemnh.org/mollusks/







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