Applications of Environmental DNA Approaches to Ecological Researches

Abstract

Abstract: Environmental DNA（eDNA）refers to DNA that can be extracted from environmental samples, without first isolating any target organisms, which includes DNA of environmental microorganisms, alive cellular fallen off from organisms, and extracellular DNA resulting from natural death organisms and subsequent destruction of cell structure. According to metagenomics concept, eDNA technologies mainly refers to the methods of sequencing analysis with genomic DNA from environmental samples. Comparing with the traditional way, the significant advantage of eDNA technologies is more efficient in solving the classification problem of mass organisms in given environmental sample, which exert shorter time-consuming, lower cost, higher accuracy. The next generation of high-throughput sequencing technology（NGS）further expands the application fields of eDNA technologies, from microbiological field to zoological and botanic fields, and results in an innovation in research methods and ideas in traditional ecology. The present review summarized the eDNA technologies and applications aspects in analysis of biological diversity, animal diets, aquatic biomass estimation, etc. Finally, the trends and prospects regarding eDNA technologies development are presented.

Key words: Environmental DNA, Metagenomics, Ecology, Species classification

Xu Hao, Luo Xi, Li Yun, Xue Yang, Ye Qin. Applications of Environmental DNA Approaches to Ecological Researches[J]. Biotechnology Bulletin, 2014, 0(10): 49-55.

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