Most existing solutions focus on reducing CO₂ or replanting corals — but what if we could go deeper? What if we could rethink coral biology from the ground up?

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## The Problem

Corals are not just pretty rocks. They are complex *symbiotic ecosystems*, especially with tiny algae called *zooxanthellae*. These algae live inside coral tissue and provide nutrients through photosynthesis. When oceans overheat or acidify, these algae die or flee — and the coral "bleaches" and dies.

Despite billions spent on reef conservation, *we haven’t solved the root issue*: the symbiotic breakdown under stress.

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## The Idea

What if we could engineer a synthetic symbiosis?

- I explored *marine fungi and mycelium* as potential scaffolds. - Then I imagined embedding engineered *photosynthetic bacteria* that mimic zooxanthellae. - These microbes could be protected inside mycelial structures, allowing *enhanced heat resistance*, *nutrient sharing*, and potentially *reef recolonization* even in hostile waters.

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## What I Built

This is not just an idea. I: - Wrote [an open-source article on Medium](https://medium.com/@riskulovakorpus/the-heart-of-the-planet-bc8a504bca85) - Designed a [GitHub repo with visual diagrams, hypotheses, and implementation scenarios](https://github.com/riskulovakorpus/TheHeartOfThePlanet) - Posted in /r/SyntheticBiology and got feedback about ecological risks, saltwater challenges, gene containment — and I’m working on those in version 2.

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## I Know It's Not Simple

Releasing GMOs into the ocean is risky. Mycelium may not behave in water like in soil. There are biocontainment issues and unknowns.

But what I want to do is *spark conversations* and *connect with experts* who could shape, redirect or improve this idea.

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## My Goal

I want this to become: - A real citizen-science research initiative - A collaborative open-source biotech concept - Maybe something bigger — because if not us, who?

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## Want to Join or Give Feedback?

All the links are here: - Medium article: https://medium.com/@riskulovakorpus/the-heart-of-the-planet-bc8a504bca85 - GitHub project: https://github.com/riskulovakorpus/TheHeartOfThePlanet - Cover Image: [download](https://chat.openai.com/share/file/0000000020b061fbaded398f5f5802d7)

If you're a synthetic biologist, coral researcher, or just someone who cares — I'd love your thoughts. Tear it apart, remix it, or help build the next draft.

Thanks for reading this far