Genetically Modified Corals and the Future of Reef Keeping

[Create New]

Here's a fascinating 'what if' scenario that's been running through my mind.

What if we borrowed a page from Glofish and apply genetic modifications to our corals? in the future we could see corals modified into what I like to call ULTRA-RAINBOW CORALS™

If this were possible, it could potentially revolutionize our entire hobby and usher in a new era of reefing. Beyond just aesthetics, genetically improved corals could become more resistant to climate change, ocean acidification and disease.

So, what do you think about this idea? How do you think it might change the way we keep reef aquariums in the future, and what ethical concerns do you have in mind?

 

[Reeflix]

I feel that more resistant corals would be good, but I feel that we should keep at a minimum, I don’t want our reefs to be full of fake looking GMO corals. As with glofish tanks with those put out an air of being fake, then all of the corals in our hobby would just be fake looking, I don’t really know how I feel on this. Since some coral are already bright, would the the tanks look fake with these?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Here's a fascinating 'what if' scenario that's been running through my mind.

What if we borrowed a page from Glofish and apply genetic modifications to our corals? in the future we could see corals modified into what I like to call ULTRA-RAINBOW CORALS™

If this were possible, it could potentially revolutionize our entire hobby and usher in a new era of reefing. Beyond just aesthetics, genetically improved corals could become more resistant to climate change, ocean acidification and disease.

So, what do you think about this idea? How do you think it might change the way we keep reef aquariums in the future, and what ethical concerns do you have in mind?

They do it with fish, designer clowns, so yes, definitely a possibility, I think its not a way forward in regards to conversation

 

[Reeflix]

They do it with fish, designer clowns, so yes, definitely a possibility, I think its not a way forward in regards to conversation

I totally agree, it is not the way to sustainably in the ocean, but to GM coral in our tank to be more hardy (no color changes) would be great! Hardy coral in our tanks would be good

 

[Rick's Reviews]

If Google translate can not spell out a correct word for me... even if I spell it correctly.... we are all doomed :+

 

[Mr_Knightley]

I've done some experiments with FP infections in coral with odd results, it's pretty much the same thing as engineering coral for specific colors. So many of the fluorescent proteins used in genetics already come from corals and their relatives.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I think we should distinguish true genetic engineering from normal mating and selection of traits (designer clowns).

I personally don't think we need either, but true genetic engineering is harder than the media would make it sound. A color is probably among the easiest things to do. Making them more hardy sounds incredibly difficult to me since it is not even obvious what genes could do that (if any).

 

[DanyL]

I've done some experiments with FP infections in coral with odd results, it's pretty much the same thing as engineering coral for specific colors. So many of the fluorescent proteins used in genetics already come from corals and their relatives.

Exactly.
IIRC the first freshwater GMOs used a fluorescent orange protein from a Ricordea Florida, and probably many other color variations as well.

 

[fish farmer]

Here's a fascinating 'what if' scenario that's been running through my mind.

What if we borrowed a page from Glofish and apply genetic modifications to our corals? in the future we could see corals modified into what I like to call ULTRA-RAINBOW CORALS™

If this were possible, it could potentially revolutionize our entire hobby and usher in a new era of reefing. Beyond just aesthetics, genetically improved corals could become more resistant to climate change, ocean acidification and disease.

So, what do you think about this idea? How do you think it might change the way we keep reef aquariums in the future, and what ethical concerns do you have in mind?

So in your example you show a run of the mill discoma morphed into a fruity pebbles discoma....both will take over my tank and kill everything.

Pass.

 

[Reefkeepers Archive]

Here's a fascinating 'what if' scenario that's been running through my mind.

What if we borrowed a page from Glofish and apply genetic modifications to our corals? in the future we could see corals modified into what I like to call ULTRA-RAINBOW CORALS™

If this were possible, it could potentially revolutionize our entire hobby and usher in a new era of reefing. Beyond just aesthetics, genetically improved corals could become more resistant to climate change, ocean acidification and disease.

So, what do you think about this idea? How do you think it might change the way we keep reef aquariums in the future, and what ethical concerns do you have in mind?

No! Absolutely not! This would one, completely destroy the economy around designer coral and destroy bisnuesses like WWC, also the glofish gene is only one color, and since corals are already flourecent it would just create a blazing red or blue, and if it did work then they would, again, be massed produced and like I said, kill off many sellers. Also, I keep coral only for their natural colors, which is why I only source wild coral. Overall I just don't like this idea

 

[blecki]

Why worry about it? Did Glofish replace every fish in every tank? No. People who find them tacky won't buy them. People who like that sort of thing will. That's it.

 

[Panky]

I have an idea. Let’s do this and humans at the same time

 

[Bpones]

As far as designer coral for color, to each their own. But when talking about conservation, that’s a whole world of interesting research. Many coral biologist across the globe are already working to identify genotypes that are able to withstand warming and more acidic oceans. Resiliency among shallow water/near shore species is very important when we think about propagation and out planting to try to assist damaged reefs.
It’s a major focus of research in Miami with the same folks who run Coral City Camera.
This type of research is being conducted with all kinds of marine organisms, not just corals. Sponges, sea grass, barnacles, bivalves. Lots to read if you’re interested.

 

[Create New]

So in your example you show a run of the mill discoma morphed into a fruity pebbles discoma....both will take over my tank and kill everything.

Pass.

This was just a hypothetical the coral species could be interchangeable, so would you be for a coral that does over take your tank and kill everything?

 

[Create New]

I think we should distinguish true genetic engineering from normal mating and selection of traits (designer clowns).

I personally don't think we need either, but true genetic engineering is harder than the media would make it sound. A color is probably among the easiest things to do. Making them more hardy sounds incredibly difficult to me since it is not even obvious what genes could do that (if any).

Yeah, I wasn't thinking about selective breeding for different traits I was wondering about genetic engineering and if it could be possible to change the colours in our corals for more desirable colours.

 

[Create New]

No! Absolutely not! This would one, completely destroy the economy around designer coral and destroy bisnuesses like WWC, also the glofish gene is only one color, and since corals are already flourecent it would just create a blazing red or blue, and if it did work then they would, again, be massed produced and like I said, kill off many sellers. Also, I keep coral only for their natural colors, which is why I only source wild coral. Overall I just don't like this idea

It would definitely open up the floodgate and cause a massive shift in the reefing economy

 

[Create New]

Why worry about it? Did Glofish replace every fish in every tank? No. People who find them tacky won't buy them. People who like that sort of thing will. That's it.

Yeah, that's what I believe would happen if this ever were to come true. Some people would want more natural corals instead of the GloCoral™

 

[samcob]

I respect each person's tastes, but I prefer things as they are, I'm not a big fan of modifications, but if we could make the corals more resistant it would be incredible.
But I think it is more a process of adaptation of them to the environment in which they develop. I share this news with you about a reef that survives in adversity, in my country, Colombia.

Varadero: The miraculous coral reef of Cartagena

Nobody knew it existed until three years ago. They found it on a submarine expedition to Bocachica. It's that simple. A group of divers led by environmental defenders came across this coral, a true miracle of nature.

And why miracle? Because it exists at a point where scientists assure that corals cannot exist: The water outlet of Cartagena Bay in Bocachica. A flow of turbid water, full of contaminants that arrive through the Canal del Dique and sediments from the poor management of the Magdalena River basin.

These reasons were not decisive for nature to let Varadero grow. Science didn't matter here. The coral that did not have that information and decided to grow at this point until reaching 1.8 kilometers in length between depths ranging between 20 and 4 meters.

While its sister corals in the Corales del Rosario and San Bernardo National Natural Park lose more and more space each year, Varadero remains vigorous as an object of research for scientists who want to discover the essence of its success to reproduce it in other corals that They got sick for these same reasons: Pollution and human presence.

However, a new challenge awaits Varadero. It has already surpassed that of pollution, sedimentation and daily and excessive fishing. Now it is threatened by the latest generation ships, called Post Panamax, that transit the oceans and seas of the world and that are beginning to arrive in Cartagena.

These giant ships need 50 meters of depth to enter the bay and they do so in a dredged channel that passes next to Varadero. Until then everything is normal.

The problem is that the port of Cartagena needs to expand access to the bay to two channels. Part of the Varadero Coral Reef would have to be dredged. Why agree with this? Some say that because of the dollars it would generate for the city. Others refuse because it would blind the life of a beautiful being, the cradle and protection of life in the sea.

And you? Now that you know, will you allow Varadero to be dredged?

Will we eat dollars in the future or fish?

Sourse: https://es.linkedin.com/pulse/varadero-el-milagroso-arrecife-de-coral-cartagena-garcía-rubio

 

[MnFish1]

Yeah, I wasn't thinking about selective breeding for different traits I was wondering about genetic engineering and if it could be possible to change the colours in our corals for more desirable colours.

It may be easier (or more difficult) than one would think. If you consider that the coral tissue itself is not creating most of the color - it's the zooxanthellae (a symbiotic relationship). So - rather than genetically altering the coral, it may very well be possible to transfer different colored zooxanthellae into bleached coral. In fact I believe I've seen (sorry I don't remember the poster) - who had done something similar with anemones

 

[Spare time]

Good luck changing one aspect of a coral without modifying something unintentionally. Genetics isn't as simple as swap a gene for another. It is a bunch of genes all interacting in a network.