DNA floating in the air can boost biodiversity conservation efforts across the world, two independent studies found.
Context
DNA floating in the air can boost biodiversity conservation efforts across the world, two independent studies found.
- Researchers from two teams have independently shown that environmental DNA (e-DNA) can potentially identify and monitor terrestrial animals.
What is DNA?
- DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the hereditary material in humans and almost all other organisms.
- Nearly every cell in a person’s body has the same DNA.
- Most DNA is located in the cell nucleus (where it is called nuclear DNA), but a small amount of DNA can also be found in the mitochondria (where it is called mitochondrial DNA or mtDNA).
What about animal’s DNA?
- Animals shed DNA through their breath, saliva, fur or faeces into the environment.
- These samples are called e-DNA.
- The study indicated a big potential of airborne eDNA to be used for conservation of terrestrial vertebrates.
- This method will work with the current techniques to monitor endangered species after some fine-tuning.
