gmo coral

mainereefer · Mar 6, 2015

anyone else think this is ridiculous? looks like I will be selling heirloom coral in the future lol

Researchers suggest genetically altered coral reefs could survive climate change - Environmental Monitor

maxxin69 · Mar 6, 2015

I mean that's nice and all. But why not just solve the whole climate change issue!!!!

maroun.c · Mar 7, 2015

Thanks for sharing.
+1 maxxin69!!!

PatW · Mar 7, 2015

It would be a good idea. They could well come up with varieties that would be far more resistant to coral bleaching during heat events. However, the oceans will get more acidic and any organisms that use calcium carbonate for hard structures like stony corals and molluscs are going to have problems.

macscale · Mar 7, 2015

Hmm... Interesting read. I'm following.

renoeb · Mar 7, 2015

Wait, why would anyone oppose this?

If fixing climate change (which is too far gone to fix, according to many), then this appears to be the next-best-thing.

I am all for it, and who knows, maybe in the process they'll find a way to customize the pigmentation of corals! :smile:

CausticGuy · Mar 8, 2015

renoeb said:
Wait, why would anyone oppose this?

If fixing climate change (which is too far gone to fix, according to many), then this appears to be the next-best-thing.

I am all for it, and who knows, maybe in the process they'll find a way to customize the pigmentation of corals! :smile:

Sounds like the argument scientists used in the '80-90s for modifying crops... In 20 years all our coral and fish will have ADD and cancer.

hart24601 · Mar 10, 2015

That isn't really talking about what most people think GMO is. It sounds like what they are looking at is selective breeding like dog breeds or pre-1980 crops. It's really all playing with genetics, but not directly. Like taking 1000 coral of the same species and seeing which individuals can survive in higher acidity water and then growing them and trying to get them to spawn in that water and selecting for their offspring that survive the same harsh water conditions and keep that cycle going.

I am not making a case for it, just pointing out that the title is a bit misleading.