Common core of a quahog

The northern quahog (Mercenaria mercenaria) has already figured out the same important things we have.

Their shells are now in the garden.

It knows how to get the most out of glucose, letting oxygen sweep out electrons as the glucose breaks down to pyruvate, and eventually carbon dioxide and water.

It knows how to generate voltages across cell membranes, so work can be done.

It knows how to catch food, excrete waste.

It knows as much about its environment as you do yours, and responds with about the same level of sophistication.

It has a beating heart and its kidneys work as well as any dialysis machine.

via Freshwater and Marine Image Bank (PD)

There's no particular reason to know the specifics of the quahog, nor is there any particular reason to know the specifics of, well, anything when you get down to it.

But after 14,000 hours or so of public education, wouldn't it be nice if a graduating young adult had a clue that the natural world is at least as interesting as, say, the sex of Kim Kardashian's fetus?




No, Arne, we do not need to make clam ed mandatory....


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