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    NHS in Scotland ‘stuck in analogue age’ as health boards shell out millions on pagers

    NHS in Scotland ‘stuck in analogue age’ as health boards shell out millions on pagers

    Scottish Labour MP to vote against welfare reforms despite Keir Starmer climbdown

    Scottish Labour MP to vote against welfare reforms despite Keir Starmer climbdown

    Buy British buses to save 400 Scottish jobs at Alexander Dennis, says MP

    Buy British buses to save 400 Scottish jobs at Alexander Dennis, says MP

    Scots fear crime is rising in their local area as SNP Government accused of ‘hollowing out’ police

    Scots fear crime is rising in their local area as SNP Government accused of ‘hollowing out’ police

    Senior member of Anas Sarwar’s shadow cabinet ‘opposed’ to Labour welfare cuts bill

    Senior member of Anas Sarwar’s shadow cabinet ‘opposed’ to Labour welfare cuts bill

    How the Scottish MPs voted in the assisted dying debate

    How the Scottish MPs voted in the assisted dying debate

    Former Labour MP calls for party to ditch ‘rigged’ voting system

    Former Labour MP calls for party to ditch ‘rigged’ voting system

    Labour’s £14bn ‘fixation’ with new nuclear power ‘won’t cut bills or help climate’

    Labour’s £14bn ‘fixation’ with new nuclear power ‘won’t cut bills or help climate’

    SNP rebels plot to oust John Swinney as party leader after Hamilton by-election loss

    SNP rebels plot to oust John Swinney as party leader after Hamilton by-election loss

    Anas Sarwar should not expect to oust John Swinney yet, says polling guru

    Anas Sarwar should not expect to oust John Swinney yet, says polling guru

    Keir Starmer says he will not support a second independence referendum as Prime Minister

    Keir Starmer says he will not support a second independence referendum as Prime Minister

    Angela Rayner accuses Reform of ‘politics of hatred’ as she insists Labour can win bitter Holyrood by-election

    Angela Rayner accuses Reform of ‘politics of hatred’ as she insists Labour can win bitter Holyrood by-election

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      Salesforce boss Marc Benioff joins Weev.

      What is a virtual office and why you need one in Central London – Your Company Formations Ltd

      What is a virtual office and why you need one in Central London – Your Company Formations Ltd

      Inflation rises again to new 40-year high

      Inflation rises again to new 40-year high

      Bank of England hikes interest rates to 1.25%

      Bank of England hikes interest rates to 1.25%

      Hiring activity in Scotland slows amid steep decline in staff availability

      Hiring activity in Scotland slows amid steep decline in staff availability

      Scottish retail footfall growth ‘worst in UK compared to pre-pandemic’

      Scottish retail footfall growth ‘worst in UK compared to pre-pandemic’

    • Sports
      Celtic could ‘renew interest’ in Evan Ferguson as transfer hijack follows Yamada hint and Ambrosino U turn

      Celtic could ‘renew interest’ in Evan Ferguson as transfer hijack follows Yamada hint and Ambrosino U turn

      Exact cost of Rangers injury crisis revealed as payments to crocked stars double that of Celtic

      Exact cost of Rangers injury crisis revealed as payments to crocked stars double that of Celtic

      Conor Coady in Diogo Jota tribute as old Wolves pal celebrates an ‘incredible person’

      Conor Coady in Diogo Jota tribute as old Wolves pal celebrates an ‘incredible person’

      Brendan Rodgers described me as huge Celtic coup after 24 clubs wanted me – now I have retired aged just 28

      Brendan Rodgers described me as huge Celtic coup after 24 clubs wanted me – now I have retired aged just 28

      Ange Postecoglou to LAFC has direct Celtic link as MLS heavy hitters plot ambitious manager move

      Ange Postecoglou to LAFC has direct Celtic link as MLS heavy hitters plot ambitious manager move

      The Rangers transfers Russell Martin needs revealed as AEK set Dessers deadline and Shankland a no-brainer

      The Rangers transfers Russell Martin needs revealed as AEK set Dessers deadline and Shankland a no-brainer

      Celtic on brink of four new signings as Benjamin Nygren lands staggering transfer claim and Balikwisha stays cool

      Celtic on brink of four new signings as Benjamin Nygren lands staggering transfer claim and Balikwisha stays cool

      I see cracks in Celtic with transfer fears over four starters so maybe this Rangers claim is a myth – Hugh Keevins

      I see cracks in Celtic with transfer fears over four starters so maybe this Rangers claim is a myth – Hugh Keevins

      Punters dramatically lose faith in Rory McIlroy in wake of his astonishingly honest US Open confession

      Punters dramatically lose faith in Rory McIlroy in wake of his astonishingly honest US Open confession

      ‘I still always visit Sir Alex Ferguson’s house – even though he branded me a Big Time Charlie’

      ‘I still always visit Sir Alex Ferguson’s house – even though he branded me a Big Time Charlie’

      The £17m reason Celtic won’t sit still this transfer window as Brendan Rodgers learns painful lesson

      The £17m reason Celtic won’t sit still this transfer window as Brendan Rodgers learns painful lesson

      Rangers placed on Vaclav Cerny red alert over Wolfsburg ‘fire sale’ as Cyriel Dessers makes transfer stance clear

      Rangers placed on Vaclav Cerny red alert over Wolfsburg ‘fire sale’ as Cyriel Dessers makes transfer stance clear

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        ‘Classy’ smartwatch that ‘performs as well as expensive brands’ now £50 in Amazon Prime deal

        Argos offers free QLED TVs with one simple deal – how to get yours today

        Argos offers free QLED TVs with one simple deal – how to get yours today

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        Everyone to get mobile phone alert as sirens sound for 10 seconds

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        Lenovo IdeaPad laptop praised for everyday use and affordable price

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        EE unveils huge new discount on JBL Flip 7 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker but you must act quick

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        Clinical microbiologist issues warning over hidden ‘droppings’ in bed sheets

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        Scientists just found a sugar switch that ‘protects your brain from Alzheimer’s’

        Brain dead pregnant woman’s family issue update after baby cut from her body

        Brain dead pregnant woman’s family issue update after baby cut from her body

        French chef shares ‘simplest ever’ one pot cake recipe ready in under an hour

        French chef shares ‘simplest ever’ one pot cake recipe ready in under an hour

        TikTok skin care routines ‘harmful’ and ‘problematic’ scientists discover in new study

        TikTok skin care routines ‘harmful’ and ‘problematic’ scientists discover in new study

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        People on highest PIP could see payments rise to nearly £800 each month from next April

        People on highest PIP could see payments rise to nearly £800 each month from next April

        Home Bargains’ ‘soft’ £30 coat looks ‘just like’ £175 Dryrobe version

        Home Bargains’ ‘soft’ £30 coat looks ‘just like’ £175 Dryrobe version

        Amazon’s most wished for sun lounger drops below £90 ahead of Prime Day

        Amazon’s most wished for sun lounger drops below £90 ahead of Prime Day

        Former DWP employee warns of two-tier State Pension payments for older people

        Former DWP employee warns of two-tier State Pension payments for older people

        Dozens of UK holidaymakers fall ill after five-star ‘holiday from hell’

        Dozens of UK holidaymakers fall ill after five-star ‘holiday from hell’

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        Lecturer struck off after falling asleep, playing on his phone and describing students as ‘d*** heads’

        Lecturer struck off after falling asleep, playing on his phone and describing students as ‘d*** heads’

        Teacher who drank alcohol in ‘mini-rave’ lesson and swore at pupils is struck off

        Teacher who drank alcohol in ‘mini-rave’ lesson and swore at pupils is struck off

        Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report

        Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report

        Exam bosses accused of ‘patronising’ Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper

        Exam bosses accused of ‘patronising’ Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper

        Cardiff University ‘has no God given right to exist’ bosses say

        Cardiff University ‘has no God given right to exist’ bosses say

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        NHS in Scotland ‘stuck in analogue age’ as health boards shell out millions on pagers

        NHS in Scotland ‘stuck in analogue age’ as health boards shell out millions on pagers

        Scottish Labour MP to vote against welfare reforms despite Keir Starmer climbdown

        Scottish Labour MP to vote against welfare reforms despite Keir Starmer climbdown

        Buy British buses to save 400 Scottish jobs at Alexander Dennis, says MP

        Buy British buses to save 400 Scottish jobs at Alexander Dennis, says MP

        Scots fear crime is rising in their local area as SNP Government accused of ‘hollowing out’ police

        Scots fear crime is rising in their local area as SNP Government accused of ‘hollowing out’ police

        Senior member of Anas Sarwar’s shadow cabinet ‘opposed’ to Labour welfare cuts bill

        Senior member of Anas Sarwar’s shadow cabinet ‘opposed’ to Labour welfare cuts bill

        How the Scottish MPs voted in the assisted dying debate

        How the Scottish MPs voted in the assisted dying debate

        Former Labour MP calls for party to ditch ‘rigged’ voting system

        Former Labour MP calls for party to ditch ‘rigged’ voting system

        Labour’s £14bn ‘fixation’ with new nuclear power ‘won’t cut bills or help climate’

        Labour’s £14bn ‘fixation’ with new nuclear power ‘won’t cut bills or help climate’

        SNP rebels plot to oust John Swinney as party leader after Hamilton by-election loss

        SNP rebels plot to oust John Swinney as party leader after Hamilton by-election loss

        Anas Sarwar should not expect to oust John Swinney yet, says polling guru

        Anas Sarwar should not expect to oust John Swinney yet, says polling guru

        Keir Starmer says he will not support a second independence referendum as Prime Minister

        Keir Starmer says he will not support a second independence referendum as Prime Minister

        Angela Rayner accuses Reform of ‘politics of hatred’ as she insists Labour can win bitter Holyrood by-election

        Angela Rayner accuses Reform of ‘politics of hatred’ as she insists Labour can win bitter Holyrood by-election

        Trending Tags

        • Business

          Salesforce boss Marc Benioff joins Weev.

          What is a virtual office and why you need one in Central London – Your Company Formations Ltd

          What is a virtual office and why you need one in Central London – Your Company Formations Ltd

          Inflation rises again to new 40-year high

          Inflation rises again to new 40-year high

          Bank of England hikes interest rates to 1.25%

          Bank of England hikes interest rates to 1.25%

          Hiring activity in Scotland slows amid steep decline in staff availability

          Hiring activity in Scotland slows amid steep decline in staff availability

          Scottish retail footfall growth ‘worst in UK compared to pre-pandemic’

          Scottish retail footfall growth ‘worst in UK compared to pre-pandemic’

        • Sports
          Celtic could ‘renew interest’ in Evan Ferguson as transfer hijack follows Yamada hint and Ambrosino U turn

          Celtic could ‘renew interest’ in Evan Ferguson as transfer hijack follows Yamada hint and Ambrosino U turn

          Exact cost of Rangers injury crisis revealed as payments to crocked stars double that of Celtic

          Exact cost of Rangers injury crisis revealed as payments to crocked stars double that of Celtic

          Conor Coady in Diogo Jota tribute as old Wolves pal celebrates an ‘incredible person’

          Conor Coady in Diogo Jota tribute as old Wolves pal celebrates an ‘incredible person’

          Brendan Rodgers described me as huge Celtic coup after 24 clubs wanted me – now I have retired aged just 28

          Brendan Rodgers described me as huge Celtic coup after 24 clubs wanted me – now I have retired aged just 28

          Ange Postecoglou to LAFC has direct Celtic link as MLS heavy hitters plot ambitious manager move

          Ange Postecoglou to LAFC has direct Celtic link as MLS heavy hitters plot ambitious manager move

          The Rangers transfers Russell Martin needs revealed as AEK set Dessers deadline and Shankland a no-brainer

          The Rangers transfers Russell Martin needs revealed as AEK set Dessers deadline and Shankland a no-brainer

          Celtic on brink of four new signings as Benjamin Nygren lands staggering transfer claim and Balikwisha stays cool

          Celtic on brink of four new signings as Benjamin Nygren lands staggering transfer claim and Balikwisha stays cool

          I see cracks in Celtic with transfer fears over four starters so maybe this Rangers claim is a myth – Hugh Keevins

          I see cracks in Celtic with transfer fears over four starters so maybe this Rangers claim is a myth – Hugh Keevins

          Punters dramatically lose faith in Rory McIlroy in wake of his astonishingly honest US Open confession

          Punters dramatically lose faith in Rory McIlroy in wake of his astonishingly honest US Open confession

          ‘I still always visit Sir Alex Ferguson’s house – even though he branded me a Big Time Charlie’

          ‘I still always visit Sir Alex Ferguson’s house – even though he branded me a Big Time Charlie’

          The £17m reason Celtic won’t sit still this transfer window as Brendan Rodgers learns painful lesson

          The £17m reason Celtic won’t sit still this transfer window as Brendan Rodgers learns painful lesson

          Rangers placed on Vaclav Cerny red alert over Wolfsburg ‘fire sale’ as Cyriel Dessers makes transfer stance clear

          Rangers placed on Vaclav Cerny red alert over Wolfsburg ‘fire sale’ as Cyriel Dessers makes transfer stance clear

          Trending Tags

          • Technology
            ‘Classy’ smartwatch that ‘performs as well as expensive brands’ now £50 in Amazon Prime deal

            ‘Classy’ smartwatch that ‘performs as well as expensive brands’ now £50 in Amazon Prime deal

            Argos offers free QLED TVs with one simple deal – how to get yours today

            Argos offers free QLED TVs with one simple deal – how to get yours today

            Everyone to get mobile phone alert as sirens sound for 10 seconds

            Everyone to get mobile phone alert as sirens sound for 10 seconds

            Lenovo IdeaPad laptop praised for everyday use and affordable price

            Lenovo IdeaPad laptop praised for everyday use and affordable price

            EE unveils huge new discount on JBL Flip 7 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker but you must act quick

            EE unveils huge new discount on JBL Flip 7 Wireless Bluetooth Speaker but you must act quick

          • Health
            Clinical microbiologist issues warning over hidden ‘droppings’ in bed sheets

            Clinical microbiologist issues warning over hidden ‘droppings’ in bed sheets

            Scientists just found a sugar switch that ‘protects your brain from Alzheimer’s’

            Scientists just found a sugar switch that ‘protects your brain from Alzheimer’s’

            Brain dead pregnant woman’s family issue update after baby cut from her body

            Brain dead pregnant woman’s family issue update after baby cut from her body

            French chef shares ‘simplest ever’ one pot cake recipe ready in under an hour

            French chef shares ‘simplest ever’ one pot cake recipe ready in under an hour

            TikTok skin care routines ‘harmful’ and ‘problematic’ scientists discover in new study

            TikTok skin care routines ‘harmful’ and ‘problematic’ scientists discover in new study

          • Entertainment
            People on highest PIP could see payments rise to nearly £800 each month from next April

            People on highest PIP could see payments rise to nearly £800 each month from next April

            Home Bargains’ ‘soft’ £30 coat looks ‘just like’ £175 Dryrobe version

            Home Bargains’ ‘soft’ £30 coat looks ‘just like’ £175 Dryrobe version

            Amazon’s most wished for sun lounger drops below £90 ahead of Prime Day

            Amazon’s most wished for sun lounger drops below £90 ahead of Prime Day

            Former DWP employee warns of two-tier State Pension payments for older people

            Former DWP employee warns of two-tier State Pension payments for older people

            Dozens of UK holidaymakers fall ill after five-star ‘holiday from hell’

            Dozens of UK holidaymakers fall ill after five-star ‘holiday from hell’

          • Life Style
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            Lecturer struck off after falling asleep, playing on his phone and describing students as ‘d*** heads’

            Lecturer struck off after falling asleep, playing on his phone and describing students as ‘d*** heads’

            Teacher who drank alcohol in ‘mini-rave’ lesson and swore at pupils is struck off

            Teacher who drank alcohol in ‘mini-rave’ lesson and swore at pupils is struck off

            Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report

            Pupil referral unit that takes children kicked out of school gets flawless Estyn report

            Exam bosses accused of ‘patronising’ Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper

            Exam bosses accused of ‘patronising’ Wales and students in Welsh GCSE paper

            Cardiff University ‘has no God given right to exist’ bosses say

            Cardiff University ‘has no God given right to exist’ bosses say

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          We’ve bred corals to better tolerate lethal heatwaves, but rapid climate action is still needed to save reefs

          by BP Author
          October 14, 2024
          in World
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          Our research group has bred corals able to better survive marine heatwaves. Our work, now published in Nature Communications, shows that it is possible to improve coral heat tolerance even within a single generation.

          We did this using selective breeding: a technique used by humans for thousands of years to produce animals and plants with desirable characteristics. Selective breeding is how humans turned wolf-like dogs into St Bernards, chihuahuas and everything in between.

          Now, selective breeding is being considered as a tool for nature conservation, particularly for coral reefs. The Coralassist Lab (of which we are part) and the Palau International Coral Reef Center have been working on coral heatwave survival specifically. Our latest results are the culmination of seven years’ work.

          Marine heatwaves trigger mass coral bleaching and mortality, with 2023-2024 declared as the fourth global mass bleaching event. Assisted evolution methods — like selective breeding — aim to boost natural adaptation to buy time for corals under climate change.

          Yet the improvement in heat tolerance in our selectively bred corals was modest compared to the intensity of marine heatwaves expected in the future. While selective breeding is feasible, it is likely not a panacea. We’ll still need to tackle the cause of mass coral bleaching by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate warming and give assisted evolution programmes time to take effect.

          How to breed corals for heat tolerance

          The first step was to determine the heat tolerance of many potential parent corals on the reef. Then, we chose specific individuals to breed two separate families of offspring, selected for either high or low heat tolerance. We reared these offspring for three to four years until they reached reproductive maturity, and then tested their heat tolerance.

          Orange coral, dark background

          Some of the selectively-bred coral at the nursery in the Pacific island nation Palau.
          Jesse Alpert

          We conducted selective breeding trials for two different traits, either the tolerance to a short, intense heat exposure (temperatures 3.5°C above normal for ten days) or a less intense but long-term exposure more typical of natural marine heatwaves (2.5°C above average for a month). This enabled us to estimate the heritability of each trait, the response to selective breeding, and whether both traits have a shared genetic basis.

          Selecting parents for high- rather than low-heat tolerance enhanced the tolerance of their adult offspring for both traits tested.

          a) Overview of the experimental design and examples of (b) Acropora digitifera parents and (c) their offspring at the nursery in Palau.
          Coralassist lab

          Heritability was roughly 0.2 to 0.3 on a scale of 0 to 1, which means about a quarter of the variability in offspring heat tolerance was due to genes passed from their parents. In other words, these traits have a substantial genetic basis on which natural and artificial selection can act.

          We measure cumulative heat stress and tolerance in terms of degree-heating weeks (°C-weeks), which reflects both how hot it gets and for how long. Given the trait variability identified in these particular corals, heat tolerance could in theory be enhanced by about 1°C-week within one generation.

          However, even this level of enhancement may not be enough to keep pace with ever more intense heatwaves. Depending on climate action, the intensity of heatwaves is expected to rise in the coming decades by around 3°C-weeks per decade, faster than the enhancement achieved in our study.

          Interestingly, corals selectively bred for high- rather than low, short-stress tolerance were no better at surviving the long heat stress exposure. With no genetic correlation detected, it is plausible that these traits are driven by independent sets of genes, and corals that are good at surviving the short sharp heat stress aren’t necessarily the best at surviving longer term marine heatwaves.

          This would have important implications, as work like this would benefit from cheap and rapid tests that can effectively identify heat tolerant colonies for breeding. However, if these tests can’t predict which coral colonies will survive month-long heatwaves, it presents a serious challenge.

          Coral fragments in differing stages of health

          Coral fragments during a long-term simulated marine heatwave, with some remaining relatively healthy throughout (upper) and others bleaching (lower) or dying (not shown).
          Liam Lachs

          Scaling up selective breeding

          Since it is possible to selectively breed corals for increased heat tolerance, the next step is to conduct large-scale trials in the wild. This will likely require considerable numbers of selectively bred corals to be deployed, perhaps by directly seeding coral larvae on reefs, or planting corals reared in an aquaculture facility.

          For this to work, outplanted corals must become reproductive themselves and contribute to the wild population gene pool. Doing this at very large scales will be challenging, but it may not be necessary to replenish the coral coverage of large areas.

          Instead, it may be sufficient to create a network of fewer strategically located larval production hubs, containing selectively bred corals at high densities to maximise fertilisation success. These hubs would serve to seed other reefs and could provide further broodstock for targeted actions.

          A lot more research and development is still needed, with many critical questions remaining unanswered. How many corals need to be outplanted to have the desired effect? Can we ensure there are no trade-offs that could compromise populations (evidence so far suggests this is not a large risk)? How can we avoid dilution of selected traits once added to the wild? How can we maximise responses to selection?

          Given the pace of ocean warming, optimisation and implementation of assisted evolution will need to happen soon for them to have a chance at success, even if only on small scales. Above all, the survival of coral reefs still depends on urgent climate action.


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