Key to ocean life, coral reefs are disappearing on the way to extinction. Should we mobilize gene editing to save a threatened species?

Coral reefs are fundamental to the health of our oceans. They cover less than 1% of the Earth’s ocean, but are home to a quarter of the ocean’s fish. … Without them, we would lose a major carbon sink. And they are on the brink of extinction, threatened by ocean acidification and rising temperatures that are outpacing their ability to adapt. 

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If scientists could use CRISPR to engineer a more heat-tolerant coral, it would give coral a better chance of surviving a marine environment made warmer by climate change. It would also keep the human industries that rely on reefs afloat. But should we edit nature to fix our failures? And if we do, is it still natural?

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Using the new field of biotech to save the natural world from the fallout of a previous technological romance has gained traction among scientists and conservationists who worry we have no time to waste. However, it remains a hotly debated topic, pitting those who say, “we can” against those who say, “we shouldn’t.” 

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