Wildlife

Scientists reproduce coral in lab

A team of scientists in the US have managed to reproduce coral in a lab setting for the first time ever, an encouraging step in the race to save "America's Great Barrier Reef" off the coast of Florida.

The researchers from Florida Aquarium's Center for Conservation were able to reproduce endangered Atlantic Pillar coral through induced spawning, a development that could ultimately prevent the extinction of the Florida Reef tract.

It's been done before at the Horniman Museum in London with Pacific corals, never with Atlantic corals, and the Pillar coral that was spawned is a highly endangered species.

Florida's corals are deteriorating rapidly due to climate change and a destructive tissue disease that appeared in the waters of the southeastern state in 2014. Scientists hope to reproduce healthy corals and repopulate the reefs through this technique.