Descripción del proyecto
La edición genética podría relevar dianas para ayudar al coral a evolucionar y adaptarse a los aumentos de temperatura
Los arrecifes de coral son el ecosistema con mayor biodiversidad del mundo y se estima que mantienen directamente a más de 500 millones de personas en todo el mundo. El cambio climático constituye la mayor amenaza para los ecosistemas de los arrecifes de coral. El estrés térmico provoca que el coral expulse las algas simbióticas que viven en sus tejidos, lo cual hace que se vuelva completamente blanco (blanqueamiento del coral). Las temperaturas en aumento incrementan la frecuencia de los eventos de blanqueamiento masivo de corales, que suelen conducir a la muerte de grandes cantidades de coral. El proyecto CORALCARE, financiado con fondos europeos, aplica, por primera vez, al coral técnicas de primera clase basadas en la edición genómica CRISPR/Cas9 para evaluar las vías genéticas que median la tolerancia térmica. Los resultados del proyecto prepararán el terreno para que la evolución asistida ayude a la «selva del océano» a navegar por los desafíos cada vez mayores relacionados con el cambio climático.
Objetivo
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.
Ámbito científico
- 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
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinador
13572 Marseille
Francia