Harnessing CRISPR to Enhance Coral Resilience Against Climate Change

Presenter: Riley Michael Banas

Faculty Sponsor: Reena Randhir

School: Springfield Technical Community College

Research Area: Genetics

Session: Poster Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM, Auditorium, A35

ABSTRACT

Coral reefs are the beautiful rainforest of the ocean since they support an immense number of marine species. Almost 25 percent of all marine species thrive here despite only making up one percent of the ocean floor. Its health is of immense ecological, economic, and aesthetic importance to us. Their tragic disappearance is due to climate change induced ocean acidification and temperature increase. This leads to adverse changes in the coral's cellular functions especially its symbiotic relationship with its algae. This alga performs several essential functions for the coral like waste removal and photosynthesis to generate food. In turn the coral provides protection for the algae on its surface. With a lower pH these processes are inhibited leading to an inability to feed either species causing the algae to die and the coral loses its color, the phenomena best known as coral bleaching. Studies in  Acropora millepora coral show that acidification and temperature increase cellular stress leading to gene expression changes that affects its metabolism, cell signaling, ion transport, calcification, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. A recent study using CRISPR technology showed the protective role of Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 against heat stress. This indicates CRISPR's potential for testing gene function and enhancing coral resilience. By understanding the alteration in the cell biology processes we can better understand coral responses and develop targeted conservation strategies.

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