The massive story
How environmental DNA is giving scientists a brand new method to perceive our world
February 2024
Environmental DNA is a comparatively cheap, widespread, doubtlessly automated method to observe the range and distribution of life.
In contrast to earlier strategies, which might determine DNA from, say, a single organism, the tactic additionally collects the swirling cloud of different genetic materials that surrounds it. It will probably function a surveillance instrument, providing researchers a method of detecting the seemingly undetectable.
By sampling eDNA, or mixtures of genetic materials in water, soil, ice cores, cotton swabs, or virtually any surroundings possible, even skinny air, it’s now attainable to seek for a selected organism or assemble a snapshot of all of the organisms in a given place.
It presents an exciting — and doubtlessly chilling — method to gather details about organisms, together with people, as they go about their on a regular basis enterprise. Learn the complete story.
—Peter Andrey Smith
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