11-10-2017, 08:08 PM
Here's one from left field for anyone interested in radiation and corals...
Scientists have been studying the effects of gamma radiation (mutations) for crop improvement (breeding) since the late 1920s.
Some commonly used improved crops include ruby red grapefruit, disease resistant cacao and barley (used for scotch whiskey).
Perhaps a little radiation would provide corals more resistant to climate change.
For those unfamiliar coral while different shares much in common with plants.
No doubt many radiated corals would die, but the ones that would survive would prove to be more resilient in the face of adversity and the coming challenges that climate change will no doubt cause.
I wouldn't be surprised if this work wasn't already being pursued in vitro in the lab.
Just an alternative perspective, to be clear I'm not advocating for irradiating our oceans / coral reefs.
: )
Scientists have been studying the effects of gamma radiation (mutations) for crop improvement (breeding) since the late 1920s.
Some commonly used improved crops include ruby red grapefruit, disease resistant cacao and barley (used for scotch whiskey).
Perhaps a little radiation would provide corals more resistant to climate change.
For those unfamiliar coral while different shares much in common with plants.
No doubt many radiated corals would die, but the ones that would survive would prove to be more resilient in the face of adversity and the coming challenges that climate change will no doubt cause.
I wouldn't be surprised if this work wasn't already being pursued in vitro in the lab.
Just an alternative perspective, to be clear I'm not advocating for irradiating our oceans / coral reefs.
: )