YmpäristöDNA

YmpäristöDNA, often abbreviated as eDNA, refers to DNA that is shed by organisms into their surrounding environment. This shedding can occur through various means, including the release of skin cells, feces, urine, mucus, or gametes. When an organism leaves its DNA behind in water, soil, or air, it can be collected and analyzed using molecular techniques.

The primary application of environmental DNA analysis is in biodiversity monitoring and ecological research. By sampling water from a lake or river, or soil from a forest, researchers can detect the presence of various species without needing to directly observe or capture them. This non-invasive method is particularly useful for studying rare, elusive, or difficult-to-detect organisms. It can also help in tracking invasive species, assessing the health of ecosystems, and understanding species distribution.

The process typically involves collecting a sample of the environmental medium, extracting DNA from it, and then using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or sequencing techniques to identify the DNA sequences. These sequences are then compared to reference databases to determine which species are present. While environmental DNA offers a powerful new tool for ecological studies, challenges remain, including understanding the persistence of DNA in the environment, potential for false positives, and the standardization of sampling and analysis protocols.