Samoa Study Lends Insight to Heat-Resistant Coral

Survival of the fittest has always been natures way of showcasing the adaptability of organisms and in a world where climate change is ever present it is a known fact our oceans are increasing in temperature. In this latest genetic study done by the Stanford Woods Institute and the Stanford Hopkins Marine Station scientists are using cutting-edge technology and attempting to sequence the genes corals turn off and on to withstand increases in ocean temperatures. In this recent study lead author Daniel Barshis and his team looked in places like Ofu Island in the American Somoa where corals are known to withstand temperature increases as high as 90 degrees fahrenheit in the summer and in low tide. 
Heat-resistant and heat-sensitive corals all react to changes in temperature by turning on or off genes, but what was so interesting about this study was that some coral were found to have already had their heat-resistant genes turned on: The corals genes “changed expression” to repair any damage that was done before the damage had even occurred. The findings imply heat-resistant corals may have a head start in the race to adapt to global climate change.  Stephen Palumbi, co-author of the study, reminds us: “We’re going to put a lot of effort into protecting coral reefs, but what happens if we wake up in 30 years and all our efforts are in vain because those corals have succumbed to climate change?” These genetic markers are now being understood through DNA sequencing to help us further map the sea floor and mark areas like the Ofu Island where heat-resistant corals can be further studied. Read more here!