Project description
Gene editing could reveal targets to help coral evolve and adapt to warming temperatures
Coral reefs are the ecosystem with the greatest biodiversity in the world and are estimated to directly support over 500 million people globally. Climate change is the biggest threat to coral reef ecosystems. Thermal stress causes coral to expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, making them turn completely white (coral bleaching). Rising temperatures are increasing the frequency of mass coral bleaching events, which often lead to the death of large amounts of coral. The EU-funded CORALCARE project is applying, for the first time ever, world-class CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing based techniques to coral to evaluate the genetic pathways that mediate thermal tolerance. The project's results will pave the way for assisted evolution to help the 'rainforest of the ocean' navigate the increasing challenges associated with climate change.
Objective
The CORALCARE project studies the genetic response of corals to ocean warming. The world’s coral reefs are being severely impacted on a global scale by rising temperature that has led to increased coral bleaching and mortality. It is uncertain that these unique ecosystems will be able to adapt to this unprecedented pace of warming. Coral reefs are often referred as the ‘rainforest of the ocean’ and their potential loss puts an astounding EUR 9 trillion of biodiversity and ecosystem services at risk annually. The major goal for the management of coral reefs is to both predict the ability of natural coral populations to adapt to future climate change and to assist this evolution, in order to minimise their loss. However, assisted evolution requires a deep understanding of coral genetics, which is still in its infancy. This is why the overarching project aim is to understand genes and pathways that lead to thermal tolerance in corals. For the first time in the world, the cutting-edge genome-editing CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/dCas9 techniques will be developed in corals, and allow us to disrupt gene function as well as turn genes on or off, to identify thermotolerance-related functions. The project aim will be tackled by: (1) scaling-up the CRISPR/Cas9 method for high-throughput gene editing during the short annual coral spawning, and establishing the CRISPR/dCas9 method for gene regulation in corals; (2) editing corals using the two CRISPR methods to test the function of candidate genes. The research is topical and highly innovative in using CRISPR genetic engineering for functional genomics, which will strengthen Europe’s quality and attractiveness in R&I. To undertake this research, the early-career researcher who has expertise in evolutionary biology will receive training in CRISPR by world’s experts, and transfer knowledge to EU. This groundbreaking project will establish the Fellow as a prominent coral scientist who will lead Australian-French collaborative research.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgenetics
- medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologygenetic engineeringgene therapy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesevolutionary biology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
13572 Marseille
France