Exploring the Genome of Coral to Understand Climatic Influence

Researchers from Australia and Saudi Arabia have launched a sequencing study focused on mapping genomes from 10 species of calcifying coral.  This study is aimed at the ever-present affects of climate change bearing down on reefs world-wide. Using comparitive data from the Great barrier Reef and the Red Sea the team plans to ”provide five times the data currently available and identify which genes help corals adapt to climate change, and which species contain these genes.” Photo Courtesy of natgeo “Climate change places coral reefs at risk through warmer water temperatures and more acidic oceans,” said Great Barrier Reef Foundation chairman John Schubert, and his sentiments add to the studies validity. The director of the Red Sea Research Center at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia (Xabier Irigoyen) will be managing efforts in the Red Sea and thinks the study “will enhance our understanding of how and why some corals are more resilient.” Read more here!