thanks Rob for this story. coral in the Great Barrier Reef is/are committing suicide.
Instead of being killed by bacterial invaders as previously thought, Ms Ainsworth’s studies reveal that the cells within the coral activate programmed cell death, or PCD - a cellular process which acts like a self-destruct mechanism.
james lovelock would love this story.(incidentally the “Gaia theory” term was coined not by him but by William Golding). interesting that this article continues to refer to the “disease”. i guess using the word properly, rather than its generally understood sense.
of course it’s global warming that is given the blame.
“I think the smoking gun is climate change. We have had a series of hot summers recently in which corals in the shallows become bleached and literally ‘worn out’. This leads to mechanisms that allow the coral to retract tissues that are no longer functioning due to this stress,” says Professor Hoegh-Guldberg. “This is somewhat similar to Eucalyptus trees dropping branches when they run short of water.”
“We need to pinpoint what is happening in the cellular process [of this disease], what is switching it on and switching it off. We need to look at the genes and pathways involved,” Ms Ainsworth said.
“Are the corals in control of their own programmed cells death - or is it simply out of control?”
The findings of this and other research into coral diseases may help to develop better warning systems to help minimise their impact on our reefs.
look forward to the genetic modification of coral in order that we may continue to admire the barrier reef, rather like the conservation work on an old building.
in the story of the modified mosquitos i liked the fact that the eyes were going to be changed to green or red. perhaps we can make coral orange?
