Do corals dream of simulated seas?

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Evolutionary science
• Environmental studies

Background:

• Coral reefs are global indicators of environmental change and face extinction.
• Ocean stress necessitates novel approaches to conservation and biological intervention.
• The field of international coral reef studies is at a critical juncture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the concept of human-assisted evolution in the context of coral reef decline.
• To analyze the implications of developing 'super corals' for marine ecosystems and evolutionary theory.
• To explore the ethical and ontological questions arising from human intervention in biological processes.

Main Methods:

• Genealogical analysis of the theory and experiment of human-assisted evolution.
• Commentary on the concept of 'super corals' and their role in addressing ocean stress.
• Examination of 'Big Coral' as a framework for understanding coral reefs as exemplars of global change.

Main Results:

• Human-assisted evolution is framed as a 'whole Earth salvage operation' with aspirations of geological time travel.
• The pursuit of 'super corals' raises profound questions about manipulating coral biology and the definition of 'human'.
• Interventions in marine biology create ontological ambiguity regarding nature and human roles.

Conclusions:

• The push to engineer marine life reflects an experiment in evaluating nature as much as theorizing evolution.
• Developing 'super corals' challenges our understanding of natural processes and human agency.
• Intervening in the nature of biology leads to complex ethical and philosophical considerations.