- Coral reefs may hold many useful small molecules.
- A research team traveled across Pacific reefs for many months.
- They took many samples from reefs and water.
- Scientists looked at tiny bacteria that live near corals.
- The team found many bacteria never seen before.
- These bacteria make small molecules for growth and protection.
- Some molecules could become new medicines or useful products.
- The study looked at stony corals and fire coral.
- Reefs are fragile because of warming and bleaching.
Difficult words
- coral — Animals that build reef structures in the seacorals, stony corals, fire coral
- reef — A line of rock or coral in the seareefs, Pacific reefs
- molecule — Very small piece of a substance or chemicalmolecules, small molecules
- bacteria — Very small living cells, some cause diseasetiny bacteria
- fragile — Easy to break or damage
- bleaching — When corals lose their color and die
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever seen a coral reef?
- Would you like to visit a coral reef?
- Do you think warm sea water is a problem for reefs?
Related articles
New drug pair helps fight rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis
Scientists paired rifampicin with a probe called AAP-SO2 that binds bacterial RNA polymerase at a different site and slows transcription. The pair killed resistant mutants in culture and was especially effective in a rabbit model.
Yale reveals molecular structure of cholera flagella
Yale researchers imaged the molecular structure of Vibrio cholerae flagella in living bacteria. The study shows how flagella proteins sit inside a hydrophilic sheath and suggests the sheath helps the bacterium move and infect cells.
Targeting a brain circuit to reduce opioid relapse
Researchers at Washington State University found that lowering activity in a specific brain connection cut heroin-seeking in a preclinical model. The study identifies a pathway between the prelimbic cortex and the paraventricular thalamus and tests two ways to reduce its activity.
