Coral Clones and Genetic degradation?

[Ian]

While it is true that they are clones. genetic degradation should not be an issue. Genetic degradation refers to each successive generation being genetically weeker(less fit) than the previous one due do acumulation of defects through inbreeding or accumulation of multiple deletory mutations.
Clones by definition are genetically identical and therefore have the same strengths and weeknesses as the source from which they were taken. This does not rule out mutation and selection even among polyps themselves but it does mean that degradation should not be an issue.

IMO the reason for corals that have a long history of growth in captivity being bullet proof is just that they HAve been successfull in aquariums.They have the right genes to handle our poor replication of a natural environment and have outlasted corals that where less fit.