First genetically engineered coral created to help save reefs from climate change New technique holds promise for understanding genes that protect corals from rising temperatures
From The Independent
Genetically engineered coral has been created by a team at America’s prestigious Stanford University, in a project they hope will serve as a “blueprint” for future coral conservation.Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/coral-reef-genetically-engineered-climate-change-great-barrier-global-warming-a8318756.htmlFor the first time, researchers were able to apply a unique tool called CRISPR-Cas9 to edit coral genes.
In the future they hope to identify genes involved in coral survival, especially those that help them tolerate the rising temperatures that have led to catastrophic reef “die-offs”.
While scientists have emphasised that genetically enhanced “super-corals” are still a long way from becoming reality, this work is still thought to hold great promise for coral protection.
It would be nice if they could repair the great barrier reef out by Australia. The last thing I heard was that place was forever damaged from the affects of climate change and sunscreen. I haven't been to that hemisphere yet and would love it if they had it all cleaned up by the time I got there :)
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The Great Barrier reef is in such bad shape that it is running the risk of being delisted as a world wonder. It's pretty serious and to my knowledge, one of the biggest coral bleaching/die off's ever witnessed in a coral reef. The Australian government is more concerned with profits over the environment, so it's probably too late for government intervention.
The damage to our reef isn't from sunscreen, but rather ships being where they shouldn't be, destructive sediment and pollutants from permitted mining operations nearby and just plain old fashioned global warming which is hurting the reef as well. Maybe sunscreen is partially to blame, but the extent of the bleaching here is arguably the fault of something bigger.
Artificial coral is awesome, but it's sad that coral reefs have reached the point where we even need to consider researching things like that. It won't be the same as the real thing and not guaranteed to have the same positive effects on the ocean.
Yes, what a shame it would be for our children to have to read history books and watch archive footages to learn about this incredible feat of nature...
Where Coral is protected or where man does not go the Coral is growing like a forest and in pristine condition.
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