Israeli genetic research may lead to creation of global warming resistant corals

Source: Xinhua| 2019-08-18 19:15:31|Editor: xuxin
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JERUSALEM, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Israeli scientific breakthrough, based on genome sequencing, may allow the development of corals resistant to sea water warming, Bar Ilan University in central Israel reported on Sunday.

In the new research, published in the journal Communications Biology, genomic sites have been identified, which may be used to develop resistant coral strains that will not be bleached when water temperatures rises.

Among the coral reefs, which account for about three percent of the total ocean area, there is a symbiosis between hosting corals and the algae living in them.

Most coral strains are required for cooperative algae to exist, as the coral's main source of nutrition is the products of algae's photosynthesis, such as organic carbon.

When the water warms, the alga enters a state of stress and is then released from the host coral tissue, causing the coral to bleach.

The study was conducted under laboratory conditions based on sea anemones, which are genetic similar to corals.

The researchers simulated a state of seawater warming and examined how anemones reacted when the symbiotic algae were present in or not present in them.

It was found that when the algae were absent, another genetic pathway was activated in the anemones linked to a bacterial vaccine that could cause the anemones' death, and even extinction.

Thus, using genetic sequencing, the researchers found genomic sites on the anemones' genome that significantly change their accessibility in response to heat.

These types, according to scientists, could be targets for future gene manipulation, which could allow the development of more resistant coral strains.

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