This article identifies that scientists are using the amount of DNA found in the dirt of an area to determine species diversity? How did they determine the accuracy? What are the advantages and drawbacks of this research?
It is amazing how scientists can tell what kinds of species are in one area, and how many animals are there as well. It is good how they don't have to harm any animals in trying to take samples.
Researchers proved that their method of DNA collecting works by taking samples from farms and safari parks that were known to have numerous large animals. After extracting the DNA from the dirt and sequencing it,they found all the expected species that had been there for an extended period of time. One advantage of this kind of research is that animals are not harmed during these tests and this method can help trace animals back thousands of years. A disadvantage is that DNA can "sink" into the ground deeper over time which causes a falsity in the research when the data is collected.
Recent ecologists used DNA in dirt to find what species live in that particular area. The animals are leaving DNA in the dirt in forms of their waste, scales, or flakes of skin. Scientists use sequencing to determine how many of a species lived in that area. The article says that if they dig deep into the soil they can determine the species that resided there thousands of years ago. It's very interesting that scientists have the tecnology and techniques to do this. I can't believe that the DNA stays in the dirt for such a long period of time.
It is amazing how scientists can tell what kinds of species are in one area, and how many animals are there as well. It is good how they don't have to harm any animals in trying to take samples.
ReplyDeleteResearchers proved that their method of DNA collecting works by taking samples from farms and safari parks that were known to have numerous large animals. After extracting the DNA from the dirt and sequencing it,they found all the expected species that had been there for an extended period of time. One advantage of this kind of research is that animals are not harmed during these tests and this method can help trace animals back thousands of years. A disadvantage is that DNA can "sink" into the ground deeper over time which causes a falsity in the research when the data is collected.
ReplyDeleteRecent ecologists used DNA in dirt to find what species live in that particular area. The animals are leaving DNA in the dirt in forms of their waste, scales, or flakes of skin. Scientists use sequencing to determine how many of a species lived in that area. The article says that if they dig deep into the soil they can determine the species that resided there thousands of years ago. It's very interesting that scientists have the tecnology and techniques to do this. I can't believe that the DNA stays in the dirt for such a long period of time.
ReplyDelete