Scientists believe the technique could be used to study the spread of airborne diseases, such as COVID-19.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London have discovered that animal and human DNA can be collected and detected from the air, and say the discovery could provide new techniques for forensic research, anthropological studies, and even help understand the spread of the Chinese communicable virus (COVID-19).
The scientists’ article, published in the journal PeerJ, notes that the researchers collected air samples from rooms where naked mole rats were kept and then used existing techniques to examine their DNA sequences and found that naked mole rat DNA could be detected. they even detected human DNA from the air samples, which also means that the technique may be used for forensic sampling.
Elizabeth Clare, senior lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and first author of the article, said we are publishing the first evidence that animal eDNA (organic DNA that can be found in the environment) can be collected from the air. This technology will help us investigate animals in hard-to-reach places, such as caves.
Noting that the technology could be used in a wider range of fields than just animal research, Claire said, “The technology has potential value in forensics, anthropology and even medicine.
“For example, the technology could help us better understand how airborne diseases, such as COVID-19, are transmitted.”
The Queen Mary research team is working with industry organizations, including NatureMetrics, to investigate areas where the technology could be used.
As an example, Claire said, “Currently, guidelines on social distance are based on physical principles and estimates of how far virus particles can be dispersed, but now with this technology we can conduct air sampling and collect real data to support these guidelines.”
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