Scientists To Use Environmental DNA On Loch Ness Monster Hunt [VIDEO]

The first written record of the Loch Ness monster dates back to the 6th Century. Now, scientists from Britain, Denmark, the United States, Australia and France are joining together to give another go on the Loch Ness monster hunt.

Loch Ness Monster News

They will be using environmental DNA (eDNA), which is made when underwater creatures leave behind DNA from skin, scales, feathers, fur, feces and urine. The scientists will extract these genetic codes from the loch over a two week period next month. Later, the samples from the United Kingdom’s largest freshwater body will be analyzed in labs in Australia, Denmark, France and New Zealand.

 

The spokesman of the global scientist team, Professor Neil Gemmell of the University of Otago in New Zealand, said, “This DNA can be captured, sequenced and then used to identify that creature by comparing the sequence obtained to large databases of known genetic sequences from hundreds of thousands of different organisms.”

While this search differs in its use of eDNA, many other previous scientific investigations of Nessie have failed. In 2003, the BBC funded an immense search that utilized 600 sonar beams and satellite tracking to measure the full length of the creature. Thirteen years later, a high-tech marine drone discovered the monster replica that sank when used in the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.

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However, this group of international scientists wants to make it clear that their search will uncover more than just an answer to the age-old question of the Loch Ness monster’s existence.

Gemmell wrote on his university website, “While the prospect of looking for evidence of the Loch Ness monster is the hook to this project, there is an extraordinary amount of new knowledge that we will gain from the work about organisms that inhabit Loch Ness.”

Gemmell said he predicts to discover new invasive species, such as the pink salmon, and more information on the bacteria that dwell in the loch of Scotland.

Their findings are expected to be revealed in January 2019.