Comparative somatic genomics reveals divergent development of cell lineages across scleractinian corals

2026/05/21 by Trinity Conn, Thorsten B. H. Reusch, Benjamin Werner +1 · 1 voice
Environmental Science · Physics and Astronomy · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies #Micro and Nano Robotics #Evolution and Genetic Dynamics

paper · doi:10.64898/2026.05.19.726040

Abstract

Abstract Somatic mutations may drive adaptation and aging across diverse life forms, yet their role remains poorly understood in many early-branching animals. Here, we compare somatic mutation accumulation in the robust coral Orbicella faveolata with previous findings in the complex coral Acropora palmata . Whole-genome sequencing revealed high fixation of somatic genetic variants in O. faveolata , particularly in older, interior regions of colonies—contrasting with A. palmata . These patterns suggest distinct cell population dynamics between clades, indicating a segregated, mammal-like germline in O. faveolata , whereas such a germline remains undetected in A. palmata . This underscores the diversity of somatic evolutionary mechanisms across scleractinian corals.

Discussions

• 🧬 New preprint on coral somatic evolution! We compare the robust coral Orbicella faveolata with the complex coral Acropora palmata. 80x whole genome sequencing shows that O. faveolata has high fixati [bsky, 18 points, 1 comments]

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