Non-invasive, e-DNA (environmental DNA) collection techniques, as applied to the study of endangered marine animals, apply (surprisingly!) to the collection and analysis of human DNA, according to latest, published research.

Non-invasive, e-DNA (environmental DNA) collection techniques, as applied to the study of endangered marine animals, apply (surprisingly!) to the collection and analysis of human DNA, according to latest, published research

From a recent article published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, "Inadvertent human genomic bycatch and intentional capture raise beneficial applications and ethical concerns with environmental DNA," we have the following observation:

"...deep-sequencing-based eDNA approaches capture genomic information from humans (Homo sapiens) just as readily as that from the intended target species. We term this phenomenon human genetic bycatch (HGB).  Additionally, high-quality human eDNA could be intentionally recovered from environmental substrates (water, sand and air), holding promise for beneficial medical, forensic and environmental applications."

Researchers also noted:

"These samples had been collected primarily for the detection of non-human species, marine turtles, animal pathogens and metagenomics8,17. With no human enrichment prior to shotgun sequencing and with sampling having been conducted in areas of relatively low human habitation densities, we nevertheless inadvertently captured a substantial amount of human genomic data."

Used in the article is the thought-provoking phrase "human genetic bycatch." The term "bycatch" is used to describe what happens when one animal is sought but another ends up in the trap, or net, and certainly applies to what apparently happened when human DNA was discovered during the collection of marine e-DNA... from the environment!

Citations and References:

• Whitmore, L., McCauley, M., Farrell, J.A. et al. Inadvertent human genomic bycatch and intentional capture raise beneficial applications and ethical concerns with environmental DNA. Nat Ecol Evol (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02056-2
• University of Florida. "Human DNA is everywhere. That's a boon for science -- and an ethical quagmire." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 May 2023. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230515132002.htm>

Note from DNA Genealogy History: The use of "e-DNA" (or environmental DNA, as a non-invasive method for collection and research of animal DNA was also researched in writing the book Dance of Life, published in 2022, and the book includes many examples of why this technique is so valuable to animal and marine biologists in their research of endangered species.