Stretch goals

May 12, 2022

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Stretch goalsThank you to everyone that helped us reach our Experiment fundraising goal! Current funding for the molecular work will be used to isolate genomic DNA from Echinopora tissue and amplify fragments of the GFP gene from the Echinopora genome using PCR primers designed by comparing GFP sequence similarity among related coral species (degenerate PCR primers). The lack of published genomic sequence for this species necessitates cloning and sequencing all amplified fragments as well as the surrounding genomic regions. This sequence data can then be analyzed for potential CRISPR targets. We have added a stretch goal. Funding our stretch goal will allow us to take this next step toward our goal of coral genome manipulation.

Matthew and Maria V. Cattell, Ph.D. like this.

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About This Project

Can green fluorescent protein expression be modified by use of CRISPR/Cas9 genome modifying tools?

Metropolitan State University, Oklahoma Aquarium

Coral use green fluorescent protein (GFP) emissions to attract algal symbionts that provide energy to the coral. Bleaching occurs when coral evict their symbionts which can result in the death of the coral in the absence of new recruitment. Human activity has resulted in five mass coral bleaching events to date. The goal of our research is to use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing tools to alter GFP expression, thereby increasing symbiont recruitment for long-term reef health and sustainability.