2013 Fiscal Year Final Research Report
Cellular mechanisms of high capacity of asexual reproduction and regeneration of reef-building corals
| Project/Area Number |
23570080
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
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| Allocation Type | Multi-year Fund |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Morphology/Structure
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2011 – 2013
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| Keywords | サンゴ / 年齢 / 老化 / テロメア / 群体 / 寿命 |
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| Research Abstract |
This study aimed to understand the basic mechanisms of high capacity of asexual reproduction and long life spans of corals. The major findings are; (1) Telomere length of the coral Acropora digitifera shortens during development. This suggests that estimation of coral age is possible at least in some fast growing corals. (2) However, significant difference in the telomere length could not be detected among different developmental stages of Galaxea fascicularis. Somatic tissues of G. fascicularis exhibited high telomerase activities. The present results suggest that telomere rate of change might be different among coral species. Self-renewal and differentiation of stem-like cells in coral should be studied if we want to understand aging of coral.
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