Human Disease Killing Coral

This should NOT be happening.

Not so long ago, it was scientific heresy to say diseases could cross the species barrier. Now, post- GM, GE and widespread mucking with nature, we even hear about diseases crossing the Kingdom barrier. This particular bacteria, Serratia marcescens, is crossing the Phyllum Barrier: causing meningitis and pneumonia in humans (Phyllum Mammal), and white pox in coral (Phyllum Coelenterata - Cridaria) - now epidemic in Florida. It's the first time a human disease has been acknowledged to infect a marine invertebrate.

Note: "Species" is at the bottom of the "taxonomic hierarchy" and "Phyllum" is second from the top; it's a HUGE separation. Definitely should not be happening.

There are seven main ranks defined by the international nomenclature codes: kingdom, phylum/division, class, order, family, genus, species.

Human Bacteria Killing Coral in Florida Keys

We’ve all heard about bird flu, swine flu, H.I.V., ebola - diseases that jump species with alarming agility and wreak havoc on humanity’s unprepared immune system. But have you ever stopped to consider the capacity of the human species to infect other life forms?

If humans can contract bird flu, can birds get people flu?

While only a handful of cases of reverse zoonosis have been documented, researchers at Rollins College in Florida and the University of Georgia have identified a human pathogen that, when set loose in the Caribbean through inadequately treated human sewage, infects and kills coral with devastating efficiency.

Also see:

Genetically Engineered Foods

Putting human genes into plants would go beyond crossing the species barrier. It would cross the kingdom barrier.

Systemic spread of an RNA insect virus in plants expressing plant viral movement protein genes (pdf)