In environmental genomics, DNA & RNA from water, soil, or air let us detect biodiversity and support conservation.
But it all starts with careful sampling — avoiding contamination and running quality checks to ensure reliable results. 🌍✨
#eDNA #eRNA #Fieldwork #Science youtube.com/shorts/eLGPC...

Head over to the methods blog and check out our new post!

Read about how Daniel Souto-Vilarós and his team processed arthropod bulk-collections from seven different protocols with DNA metabarcoding 🐛🐜👇

Meet 𝘋𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘹 🔬✨

These tiny freshwater organisms helped us study how environmental DNA & RNA (eNAs) degrade and persist in water. Even the smallest creatures can reveal big insights about biodiversity and ecosystem health. @biomcgill.bsky.social

#eDNA #eRNA #Daphnia #Science

It's not all about DNA. RNA could transform real-time environmental surveillance.

By vanishing quickly, RNA avoids DNA’s problem of lingering too long, giving ecologists a sharper, more immediate picture of life in lakes, rivers, and beyond.
www.anthropocenemagazine.org/?p=238665

How environmental RNA can give us a real-time picture of freshwater biodiversity

Excited to share a new Conversation article with @otournayre.bsky.social 🧬at @biomcgill.bsky.social
We show that environmental RNA, long considered too unstable, can actually give us a snapshot of what’s alive right now in lakes and rivers.

🔗 theconversation.com/how-environm...

Camping in Vermont

🧬 ¡Nueva publicación! En nuestro estudio mostramos que el eRNA puede detectarse incluso tras dilución extrema en agua dulce.
Una herramienta prometedora para monitorear biodiversidad en tiempo real. @biomcgill.bsky.social
📖 doi.org/10.1111/1755-0998.70028
#eRNA #biodiversidad #McGill #CristescuLab

📢 New #eDNA and #eRNA study!🧬
We used dPCR to compare #decay rates and #detectability across 4 #markers (16S, 18S, COI, LDHA) in 1000L freshwater mesocosms.
Massive effort led by PhD student ‪@wbmorgadog.bsky.social‬
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

New study published in MER: eDNA/eRNA decay and detectability in connected 1000-L mesocosms. eRNA decays faster than eDNA; digital PCR quantified detection across a wide dilution gradient (to 1:10,000). OA: doi.org/10.1111/1755...
Co-authors: @otournayre.bsky.social & Melania Cristescu. #Science

Key takeaways: eRNA degraded significantly faster than eDNA across markers; dPCR kept detection high even under strong dilution—signals still reached the terminal mesocosm. Huge thanks to everyone who helped.
With @otournayre.bsky.social & Melania Cristescu
#dPCR #MolecularEcology

4 connected ponds (C1→C4) with serial dilutions plus an isolated control; sampled up to 24 days. This lets us test detectability across the network.

🎉Our paper is out in Molecular Ecology Resources! We tracked eDNA vs eRNA decay in connected & isolated 1000-L mesocosms using dPCR. eRNA decays faster, and both signals can move across the network. OA: doi.org/10.1111/1755...
With @otournayre.bsky.social & Melania Cristescu
#eDNA #eRNA #Freshwater

🚨Turning air quality networks into a global #biodiversity monitoring system?
Air pollution filters were repurposed for #airborne #eDNA, enabling detection of #vertebrates, #invertebrates, #plants & #fungi at a national scale.🧬🌐🧪
📄Check out our new paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...