Thorny Problem in the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, and naturally is one of Australia’s greatest attractions. Every year, concerns for its health keep growing, with recent reports stating that two thirds are officially bleached, agricultural run off is causing massive algal blooms, and more recently, plans to dredge parts of the reef to make way for mining ports. But who would have thought one of nature’s biggest threats was nature itself? The Crown-of-Thorns Starfish is one of the leading threats to the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef. But recent research has revealed a hidden weakness in their DNA. Professor Bernard Degnan, Development Fellow at the University of Queensland discussed what exactly this weakness means with The Daily.