Widespread bleaching of reefs is devastating delicate ecosystems
t is one of the least understood processes in nature. How do two very different species learn to live with each other and create a bond, known as symbiosis, which can give them a powerful evolutionary advantage?
“Coral reefs are called the rainforests of the seas for a good reason,” said Michael Sweet, of the University of Derby, and leader of the project. “They provide homes for a vast array of sealife and have an estimated global worth of around £6tn a year because of the fishing, tourism industries and coastal protection they support.”from global warming is now causing worldwide devastation.
Understanding the exact relationship between coral and its symbiotic partner, algae, is now a key focus of scientific attention. Coral provides protection for algae, which in turn converts the sun’s energy into food for the coral. This gives the coral the energy to grow, reproduce, and build its skeleton. The algae also give coral its colour.
As part of the ASG project, which is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Sanger Institute,, thousands of samples of coral DNA are now being studied and their genomes sequenced. A key goal will be to pinpoint symbiotic partners that make coral best able to resist the impact of rising sea temperatures as well as diseases that are associated with increased heat.
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