Breakthrough in gene editing technology for coral reefs

The University of Queensland, Australia, has announced the breeding of heat-tolerant corals that have been genetically edited to enhance their ability to withstand heat with symbiotic algae, increasing their survival rate by 50 percent at sea temperatures of 32 degrees Celsius. The technology has been transplanted on an experimental basis on the Great Barrier Reef, but ecologists have warned that genetically engineered corals could damage biodiversity. Meanwhile, Pangataran Island in the Philippines has deployed an AI-driven monitoring platform that combines underwater cameras and satellite remote sensing to provide 72-hour advance warning of coral bleaching events.