Symbiosis refers to mutually beneficial interactions between different organisms. Endosymbiosis is a type of symbiosis in which one organism lives inside another organism. Endosymbiotic relationships evolve in a wide range of forms, from terrestrial plants to aquatic mollusks and corals. In recent decades, the breakdown of endosymbiosis between corals and their symbiotic algae, i.e. coral bleaching due to climate change, has led to massive coral death and consequently coral reef degradation. By developing and applying different tools, we have uncovered genes that define the symbiotic states of coral, which reveal insights into why coral recovery from bleaching is slow and difficult, and how we may be able to enhance this process.
Presented by Dr. Yixian Zheng: Director, Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science