If the symbiotic algae living inside some corals jumped off a bridge, the corals would follow. But other corals are able to resist such lemminglike behavior, and now scientists think a suicide protein may explain the difference between the two groups.
Some corals overreact to distress signals sent by resident algae when waters warm, researchers in New Jersey and Israel report online June 2 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.