The Mystery Behind Mediterranean Red Coral's Shimmer

Did you know that some corals glow bright red? Meet Corallium rubrum, an octocoral that's only found in the western Mediterranean Sea. This coral isn't like the rest. It's famous for its stunning red color and hardness. Instead of just making tiny calcified structures called sclerites, C. rubrum creates a totally calcified, dazzling red axial skeleton. People have been fishing and trading it for centuries because of this unique combination. But what makes this red skeleton special? Scientists are trying to figure that out by looking at the coral's DNA. Don't let the name "red coral" fool you. Corallium rubrum isn't really a coral like the ones you might think of. It's a type of octocoral, which means it's part of a group of corals with eight tentacles. What's really interesting is that C. rubrum isn't just red on the outside. Its skeleton is red too. Imagine that – a coral with a red backbone! Scientists are curious about why C. rubrum has this special red skeleton. To crack the code, they're looking at the coral's genome. The genome is like a set of instructions written in the coral's DNA. By studying it, scientists hope to understand how the coral makes its unique red skeleton. Understanding the genome of C. rubrum could have big impacts. Not only could it help protect this valuable marine resource, but it might also give us new insights into how other corals work. Plus, it could inspire new ways to use corals in science and industry. So, the next time you see a piece of red coral jewelry, think about the science behind it. There's more to it than just pretty colors!