September 16, 2019
Scotland’s Loch Ness came to the public’s attention in 1933 when local papers published reports of a large beast living in the water. Since then there have been a number of reports of ‘Nessie’, and much speculation about what exactly the monster may be, new research may put the speculation to rest once and for all.
Researchers from Otago University conducted an enormous environmental DNA (eDNA) sample of the world-famous loch. Within its waters they found the DNA of over 3,000 species, but were unable to find any trace of monster, reptile, or dinosaur DNA. Instead they found a large amount of eel DNA and suggest that the famous ‘monster’ is in fact just a vey large eel.
While eDNA sampling was unable to find Nessie in the loch, it is a very useful and non-invasive sampling tool that conservationists are using to monitor ecosystems across the globe. The data gathered at Loch Ness will be valuable in the coming years and allow researchers to monitor changes in biodiversity.
Source: The Guardian
Read more: http://ow.ly/sUqn50w96zv
