eDNA: an introduction to environmental DNA in ecology and conservation

Thursday, 3 March 2022 12.30–13.15 GMT

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is fast becoming an important tool in the study of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity. The use of DNA-based techniques in the surveying and monitoring of terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity has the potential to reduce costs, reduce turnaround times and improve our ability to identify or detect taxa that are difficult to find or identify.

Dr Helen Rees, Director, ADAS Biotechnology

Helen is a molecular biologist with 19 years of research experience and is the ADAS biotechnology lead for the development and delivery of the company’s eDNA offer. Helen was responsible for the development and setting up of the ADAS great crested newt eDNA analysis service in 2014 and continues to project manage the delivery of this work. In recent years, she has developed the eDNA business to include metabarcoding approaches for community analysis and qPCR-based methods supporting the detection of both invasive and at-risk aquatic species. Helen has published a number of peer reviewed articles on eDNA methodologies, prion diseases and extremophiles.