Environmental DNA technology makes tests faster, cheaper

Environmental DNA (eDNA) can identify invasive species, identify mislabeled seafood, and monitor whether offshore wind farms are affecting marine life. While eDNA technologies are scientifically sound, many government agencies have been slow to implement them, said Francis J. DiSalvo said.

“Policy action is needed to unlock the potential of eDNA,” Lodge said in an opinion piece published by the Ecological Society of America on Saturday. And more accurate when protecting people and natural resources.

“Often scientists create new technologies or practices that help prevent the next pandemic or protect wildlife and ecosystems, but those discoveries are not immediately put into practice,” Lodge said. “Cornell Atkinson’s mission is to put Cornell research into action to protect people and the planet. To do this, we need to build relationships with government agencies, corporations and non-governmental organizations to quickly translate findings into action.

Environmental DNA was first discovered in In 2008, French scientists found American bullfrogs in French ponds using DNA markers. Lodge and his colleagues soon used the technique to document that invasive carp species were more abundant in the waters connected to the Great Lakes than previously known.

While EDN methods can be used to measure biodiversity levels in air and soil, the biggest benefits so far have been seen in water, because sampling in water is difficult and expensive, he said. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has proposed using eDNA to identify harmful marine species, detect adulterated seafood, and monitor marine fisheries, among other things.

“Much of the technological innovation in eDNA has been driven by scientists looking for invasive species, because if you find them early enough you can have a lot of hope of eradicating them – with traditional fishing gear and other organisms, you don’t have a chance of catching one until there are too many of them,” said Lodge.

Lodge said if more federal agencies adopt EDNA and make it clear that such technology must be used in mandatory environmental assessments before development projects, it will create a “virtuous cycle” that will save developers time and money while accelerating the energy transition. In the face of climate change. It also fuels the growth of private enterprises in scientific equipment companies and environmental consulting firms. Referring to the same cycle that occurred when governments mandated car manufacturers to achieve higher gas mileage standards, or when governments now want to transition to electric vehicles: policy drives scientific innovation, which ultimately leads to economic growth and benefits consumers and the environment.

“Technological progress often happens faster than government policies can change, and there are many plausible reasons for that,” Lodge said. “But it’s often the push to get technology into the right hands that can make a difference.”

Chrissy Gashler is a freelance writer for Cornell Atkinson.