Back from the Cold: Lessons on Dealing with a Warming World from Antarctic Species

Antarctic fishes face the challenge of a changing climate. Therefore, understanding how these species will adapt to higher temperatures will help us understand the future of these cold fishes. Several fish species have jumped from Antarctic to warmer temperate waters over the history of the modern cold Antarctica. Knowing that some species already went through the process of adaptation, it makes us wonder how this transition was possible, and what changes occurred that let them survive warmer temperatures. The purpose of this study is using a transcription factors known as HSF-1, the master controller of the cellular response to heat stress, as a model to explore the molecular changes that enabled this transition.