Question

Which technology are environmental scientists using to track invasive species of carp without coming into contact with the fish?

Answer 1

The answer is C

Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance

Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples, such as water, soil or faeces, without first isolating any target organisms. It can also result from the decomposition of dead organisms. All living organisms, regardless of their size or ecology, leave traces of DNA in their environments, reflecting their current or past presence. eDNA is characterized by a complex mixture of nuclear, mitochondrial or chloroplast DNA, and can be intracellular (from living cells) or extracellular. It enables the detection of a species regardless of its life stage or gender. This technology has the potential to eliminate the need to capture or visually detect a target species, making it a particularly attractive alternative as a stand-alone assay for organisms that are hard to capture, difficult to collect, or that have small populations.