It 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 the most spectacular manifestations of symbiosis – and understanding the mechanics of this mutual endeavour has become an urgent task as global warming has triggered the widespread collapse of reefs across the planet.
In a bid to halt this destruction, an international group of researchers led by the Wellcome Sanger Institute is working together on the Aquatic Symbiosis Genomics (ASG) project. Powerful DNA sequencers are now unravelling the genetic secrets of coral, data that could be vital in saving the world’s reefs, and understanding the mysterious processes that drive symbiosis.
Wouldn’t it be better to just stop doing the thing that’s making the existing reefs die?
In that regard only, even complete course correction at this stage won’t effect change quick enough. There must be some supplemental action like this.
NOOO!!! SUPERCORAL IS THE ONLY SOLUTION!!!
Buy spores now!
Yeah, but it doesn’t have to be one or the other.
Yes, but it seems creating an environment to survive humanity is easier than changing humanity.
Don’t worry, humanity can’t outlive itself, and in a short million years it will be like we never existed.
The human effect is just an elaborate version of “There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.”
Agreed. Kill all humans.
I have to say, I do wonder if reefs will just gradually shift to higher latitudes.
It may just be that the water temperature is increasing faster than the reefs can migrate. But if that’s the case, we can work with that. There has been remarkable success growing reefs by putting starter structures on the seafloor and then seeding them with coral. If we start doing that in places we previously thought to be to cold for coral, that has potential to work…
We were doing fine until the SuperCoral™ evolved the ability to breath air back in 2047… must’ve been some of that salamander DNA that we used. 
New sci-fi apocalypse timeline unlocked: super-coral takes over the planet
You mean SCP 835?
Wild species are extremely good at adapting to evolving conditions. Their ability in this is many more times more powerful than any developments these searchers will produce.
On the other hand, researchers are very good at convincing themselves that they should have more money … well, sometimes they are right.
