2.1 Introduction
2.2 Physiology
2.2.1 External Factors
2.2.1.1 Temperature
2.2.1.2 Salinity
2.2.1.3 Oxygen
2.2.2 Cell Structure and Cellular Metabolism
2.2.3 Energy Sources – Food Substrates
2.2.3.1 Carbohydrates
2.2.3.2 Lipids
2.2.3.3 Proteins
2.2.3.4 Lipid and Protein Metabolism
2.2.4 Aerobic and Anaerobic Cellular Respiration
2.2.4.1 Glycolysis
2.2.4.2 Aerobic Metabolism
2.2.4.3 Anaerobic Metabolism
2.2.4.4 Specialisations for High Energy Work
2.2.5 The Role of Metal Ions
2.2.5.1 Calcium
2.2.5.2 Sodium and Potassium
2.2.5.3 Phosphorus
2.2.5.4 Iron and Copper
2.2.5.5 Zinc and Cobalt
2.2.5.6 Molybdenum
2.2.5.7 Sulphur
2.2.5.8 Magnesium and Manganese
2.3 Cell Signalling and Chemical Messengers
2.3.1 Hormones, Endocrine, and Neuroendocrine Systems
2.3.1.1 Molluscan Endocrine Systems
2.3.1.2 Neurosecretion, Neurosecretory Cells, Neurohormones, and Neurotransmitters
2.3.1.3 Hormonal Control of Shell Growth
2.3.2 Neuropeptides
2.3.3 Pheromones
2.3.4 Receptors
2.3.5 Growth Factors
2.4 Molluscan Physiological Defences
2.4.1 Stress Proteins
2.4.2 Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and Reactive Nitrogen Species (RNS)
2.4.3 The Immune System
2.4.3.1 Cellular Defences (Immunocytes, Amoebocytes, and Haemocytes)
2.4.3.2 The Humoral Component – Antimicrobial Peptides and the Complement System
2.4.3.3 Diverse Responses to Infection
2.4.3.4 Encapsulation or Nodule Formation
2.4.3.5 Environmental Considerations
2.4.4 Repair Mechanisms in Molluscs
2.4.5 Secondary Metabolites
2.4.6 Aestivation (Dormancy, Hibernation)
2.5 Genomics, Including Chromosomes and Molecular Studies
2.5.1 Chromosome Studies
2.5.1.1 Endopolyploidy
2.5.2 Early Molecular Work
2.5.3 Mitochondrial Genomes
2.5.4 Nuclear Genomes
2.5.5 Proteomics
2.5.6 RNA Editing
2.5.7 Horizontal Gene Transfer
2.6 Non-genomic Molecules