Coral Genes and Climate Change: Can We Engineer Resilience?

 Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and important ecosystems on Earth, but their existence is in danger thanks to rising ocean temperatures, increased acidification, and sea pollution. One of the most well known examples is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which has suffered multiple mass bleaching events in just the past decade. Recently, scientists have been looking into ways to counteract coral bleaching, and one of the ways is via genetic modification.

One method researchers are experimenting with is selective breeding, where corals that survive heatwaves are bred together to create more heat tolerant offspring. But other scientists are taking it a step further, using CRISPR gene editing to tweak coral DNA directly. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Marine Science have been working on coral-algae symbiosis by modifying the algae that live inside coral tissues. 

Another strategy is called assisted gene flow, which involves taking genes from corals in naturally warmer environments, like the Persian Gulf, and introducing them into more vulnerable coral populations. This method doesn’t technically involve editing DNA, but instead speeds up the natural process of adaptation by selectively breeding the coral for the best results.