Model System Development

Carnegie has an illustrious history of developing model organisms to gain a deep understanding of biological principles and mechanisms. For decades, Carnegie biologists have used these tools to build deep expertise in understanding the mechanisms that govern life as we know it.

Now, our researchers are push the next frontier by applying organismal and developmental biology in the much broader context of interspecies interactions and ever-changing environments. We believe that the solution to resilience in the face of a changing climate lies at the interface of molecular biology and ecology.

We have a notable head start with our coral reef research, investigating how warming oceans with varying salinity leading to fatal bleaching events. Carnegie scientists have developed model organisms in the laboratory to reveal the mechanisms enabling coral to obtain life-sustaining nutrients from their algal symbionts. Our researchers now seek to develop a roadmap for genetically modifying corals in the wild to be more robust and resilient to a changing climate.