Scotland is one of the areas of the United Kingdom that undoubtedly arouses the most curiosity. Its natural landscapes and interesting culture have been a great attraction for tourists. However, if there is something that is linked par excellence to this area, it is the myth of Loch Ness and its incredible monster. This continues to be one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country today. Its mysterious history has lasted for hundreds of years, but everything indicates that, shortly, the truth will finally emerge.
A team of scientists, under the direction of Professor Neil Gemmell from the University of Otago (New Zealand), is about to embark on an investigation to analyze the water of the famous Loch Ness in June 2018 .
The process will consist of using environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from the water to identify tiny nucleic acid remnants left in the lake. The next step will be to establish a detailed list of all the life that resides in the lake and they will make comparisons between it and other similar bodies of water to discover how that of Loch Ness differs from other sites .
Gemmell says they are open to anything they can find. However, he says he would be very surprised to find evidence of DNA sequences from a large extinct marine reptile.
“Now we will have the opportunity to test the myth of the monsters of this lake. For years, the presence of large fish such as catfish and sturgeon has been suggested as possible explanations for these stories”, confesses the professor.
A project beyond the monster
Gemmell’s project actually encompasses much more than a hunt for monsters. “While the prospect of looking for evidence of the age-old creature is the hook of this project, there is an extraordinary amount of new knowledge that we will gain from this very work about the organisms that inhabit Loch Ness, the largest freshwater body in the world. the whole of the UK, “he explains.
The researchers predict that new species of life, particularly bacteria, will be documented during the study. In turn, relevant data will be provided on the range of new invasive species recently seen in the lake, such as the Pacific pink salmon. Additionally, a better understanding of the native creatures residing in the area will also be achieved.
EDNA sampling is an effective tool, used in previous projects related to monitoring sharks, whales, fish and other animals, so it is expected to easily reveal which species live in the dark waters of Loch Ness.
Gemmell explains that “every time a creature moves through its environment, it leaves behind tiny bits of DNA from skin, scales, feathers, fur, feces, and urine. This DNA can be captured, sequenced, and used. to identify that creature by comparing the obtained sequence against a database of 100,000 known organisms. If an exact match cannot be found, we can usually figure out which tree of life that sequence fits into. “
The team of scientists is made up of world leaders in the sector , from the United Kingdom, Denmark, the United States, Australia and France. At the moment, there is great enthusiasm for the project, as it is a great opportunity to answer interesting questions and make history.
