Genomic evidence suggests resilience to ocean warming in a deep sea bamboo coral

Stabilization of macromolecular systems and expansion of extracellular matrix proteins appear to represent shared adaptive strategies to deep-sea environments across all five deep-sea corals examined. Additionally, an octocoral-specific calcification-related gene subfamily, designated <i>SLC4ζ</i>, was identified, which underwent two duplication events prior to divergence of the octocoral common ancestor. All resulting copies remain functionally active, highlighting their potential importance in octocoral calcification and long-term adaptation.

Collectively, this study provides a genomic resource and reveals a robust survival potential in Keratoisididae under climate change, offering theoretical support for deep-sea conservation strategies.</p>