Results of Search for Nessie’s eDNA Delayed
Kollage: grewi.de
Dunedin (New Zealand) – The project searching for possible DNA-evidence in favour of or against the existence of the famous Monster “Nessie” in Scotlands likewise famous Loch Ness has delayed the publication of its results that were announced previously to be published in late January.
Since last summer, a team of scientists lead by Prof. Neil Gemmell of the University of Otago is trying to genetically test theories surrounding a still unknown large creature lurking in Scotland’s most famous Lake Loch Ness. Using so-called eDNA, the researchers want to search for clear genetic traces of an organism that would explain – or refute – countless sightings of the legendary “Loch Ness monster” Nessie.
Using water samples from Scotland’s second largest freshwater lake and comparative control samples from three other Scottish lochs (Loch Garry, Oich and Morar), the biologists hope to search for genetic traces of the alleged monster “Nessie” in Loch Ness using so-called environmental DNA (environmental DNA).
– Read more about the project HERE
Background
eDNA represents a comparatively new method of DNA analysis that can extract even the smallest traces of DNA from environmental samples such as water or soils. The method became known through the DNA-evidence of the existence of the ancient so-called Denisova humans from the analysis of deposits in a cave in which no other physical evidence or traces were found for the former presence of the long unknown early human species.
While the results were said to be announced late January 2019, the University now informed the German news-blog on frontier-sciences Grenzwissenschaft-Aktuell.de (GreWi) that it will take a few more month from now:
„After sample collection was completed in June, a global team of scientists has been busy extracting DNA, sequencing genes, and sifting through international DNA databases to identify forms of life present in the famous loch.
It was previously hoped the results would be available early this year, however, the analysis has taken longer than anticipated.
Project lead, Professor Neil Gemmell, of the University of Otago now anticipates the work to potentially take another four months to complete.“
MORE ON THIS TOPIC…
Sequencing complete: Scientific Search for Loch Ness eDNA enters final round 17. October 2018
© grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.de
