Descrizione del progetto
L’editing genetico potrebbe rivelare bersagli per aiutare i coralli ad evolversi e adattarsi a temperature più calde
Le barriere coralline sono l’ecosistema con la maggiore biodiversità al mondo e si stima che sostengano direttamente più di 500 milioni di persone a livello globale. I cambiamenti climatici rappresentano la principale minaccia agli ecosistemi delle barriere coralline. Lo stress termico induce i coralli a espellere le alghe simbiotiche che vivono nei loro tessuti, rendendoli completamente bianchi (sbiancamento dei coralli). Le temperature più elevate stanno aumentando la frequenza degli eventi di massa di sbiancamento dei coralli, che ne conducono spesso alla morte grandi quantità. Il progetto CORALCARE, finanziato dall’UE, sta applicando per la prima volta ai coralli tecniche di livello mondiale basate sull’editing genomico CRISPR/Cas9, per valutare i percorsi genetici che mediano la tolleranza termica. I risultati del progetto apriranno la strada all’evoluzione assistita, per aiutare le «foreste pluviali dell’oceano» ad affrontare le crescenti sfide associate ai cambiamenti climatici.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
- 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
Parole chiave
Programma(i)
Argomento(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinatore
13572 Marseille
Francia