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Cryogenics and coral banks are nothing new but as one of the largest and most famous reefs in the world, Australian scientists are exploring using cryogenics to preserve corals from the Great Barrier Reef. We’ve previously seen the University of Hawaii and the Zoological Society of London start similar coral banks and we are hoping to see the Australian coral bank find success before it would need to be used. By taking and freezing eggs and sperm from the coral, the research teams can then fertilize and regrow the coral in the lab. As some scientists predict the GBR not surviving past 2050 with the drastic effects global warming and human interference are causing on the reefs. The research teams are hoping to not only have species preserved in case of an emergency, but to create stronger, more resilient coral as well.
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