Carnegie Coral Spawning

Galaxea fascicularis is a stony coral that the lab uses to study the molecular, cellular, and developmental basis of how intracellular beneficial microbes invade and persist in animal cells to form symbiosis, as well as other aspects of coral biology and development (see publications - SLC4y and coral calcification). One major advancement is that we have regular Galaxea spawning in the lab, allowing us to use new molecular techniques (like CRISPR/Cas9) to test gene function on different aspects of Galaxea biology.

But what does coral spawning look like in the lab?

Well, we are here to show you!

A Galaxea colony releasing a huge amount of gamete bundles!

A Cleves lab member carefully collects Galaxea gamete bundles into colony-specific tubes. Isolating colonies during spawning and collecting gametes into separate colony-specific tubes is important to prevent uncontrolled fertilizations. If new colonies are spawning, we can also test cross parents to determine reproductive compatibility.

Galaxea release buoyant gamete bundles containing either eggs or sperm. Teams are set up to collect either sperm or egg bundles in preparation for fertilization and, later, microinjections.

Lab manager Natalie Swinhoe pictured attentively collecting egg bundles in our coral spawning system!

After the gametes are collected, they are washed and fertilizations can begin. Once fertilized, the zygotes are ready to be microinjected. Microinjections are a method used to deliver reagents, like CRISPR/Cas9, into zygotes and test hypotheses.

Graduate student Griffin is locked in on some CRISPR/Cas9 microinjections to test gene function!

Once injected, the zygotes go into one of many lab experiments, which include studying coral settlement, understanding coral cell types, and seeing the effect of genes on heat stress, symbiosis establishment, and symbiosis maintenance.

Galaxea zygotes that have been injected!

Stay tuned to hear more about the lab's findings!

Photos collected from the lab.