The CRISPR Journal,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Dec. 30, 2024
Characterizing
biodiversity
using
environmental
DNA
(eDNA)
represents
a
paradigm
shift
in
our
capacity
for
biomonitoring
complex
environments,
both
aquatic
and
terrestrial.
However,
eDNA
is
limited
by
biases
toward
certain
species
the
low
taxonomic
resolution
of
current
metabarcoding
approaches.
Shotgun
metagenomics
enables
collection
whole
ecosystem
data
sequencing
all
molecules
present,
allowing
characterization
identification.
Clustered
regularly
interspaced
short
palindromic
repeats
(CRISPR)
CRISPR-associated
proteins
(Cas)-based
methods
have
potential
to
improve
efficiency
metagenomic
low-abundant
target
organisms
simplify
analysis
enrichment
or
nontarget
depletion
before
sequencing.
Implementation
CRISPR-Cas
has
been
due
lack
interest
support
past.
This
perspective
synthesizes
approaches
study
underrepresented
taxa
advocate
further
application
optimization
CRISPR-Cas,
holding
promise
biomonitoring.
Molecular Ecology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
33(11)
Published: April 16, 2024
Abstract
Molecular
tools
are
an
indispensable
part
of
ecology
and
biodiversity
sciences
implemented
across
all
biomes.
About
a
decade
ago,
the
use
implementation
environmental
DNA
(eDNA)
to
detect
signals
extracted
from
samples
opened
new
avenues
research.
Initial
eDNA
research
focused
on
understanding
population
dynamics
target
species.
Its
scope
thereafter
broadened,
uncovering
previously
unrecorded
via
metabarcoding
in
both
well‐studied
understudied
ecosystems
taxonomic
groups.
The
application
rapidly
became
established
research,
field
by
its
own.
Here,
we
revisit
key
expectations
made
land‐mark
special
issue
Ecology
2012
frame
development
six
areas:
(1)
sample
collection,
(2)
primer
development,
(3)
biomonitoring,
(4)
quantification,
(5)
behaviour
environment
(6)
reference
database
development.
We
pinpoint
success
eDNA,
yet
also
discuss
shortfalls
not
met,
highlighting
areas
priority
identify
unexpected
developments.
In
parallel,
our
retrospective
couples
screening
peer‐reviewed
literature
with
survey
users
including
academics,
end‐users
commercial
providers,
which
address
focus
efforts
advance
eDNA.
With
rapid
ever‐increasing
pace
technical
advances,
future
looks
bright,
successful
applications
best
practices
must
become
more
interdisciplinary
reach
full
potential.
Our
retrospect
gives
towards
concretely
moving
forward.
Reviews in Aquaculture,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
16(3), P. 1160 - 1185
Published: Jan. 25, 2024
Abstract
Aquaculture
contributes
a
significant
portion
of
the
global
aquatic
biomass
destined
for
human
consumption.
Bivalve
and
marine
finfish
aquaculture
operations
require
sea‐based
farm
sites
that
result
in
considerable
interactions
with
natural
environment.
The
addition
feed
waste
physical
structures
(e.g.,
net
pens
longline
mussel
culture)
can
provide
an
attractive
artificial
reef
many
species
studies
have
shown
both
positive
negative
effects
on
surrounding
ecosystem
due
to
wild
sites.
Assessing
these
be
complex,
depending
local
ecosystem,
several
monitoring
techniques
been
used
accurately
determine
associations
decapods
farms.
In
this
review,
we
assessed
main
methods
monitor
aquaculture‐ecosystem
interactions.
advantages
disadvantages
each
technique
are
discussed
suggestions
mitigate
shortfalls
future
outlined.
It
was
evident
combining
methodologies
should
prioritised
lessen
impact
identified
weaknesses
any
given
approach.
Designing
complementary
approaches
may
help
attain
robust
data
further
understand
underlying
proximate
mechanisms.
Environmental DNA,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
5(6), P. 1133 - 1147
Published: Sept. 28, 2023
Abstract
Molecular
technologies
have
facilitated
the
expansion
of
biodiversity
assessments
across
a
broad
range
organisms
and
aquatic
systems.
Environmental
DNA
(eDNA)
environmental
RNA
(eRNA),
collectively
referred
to
as
nucleic
acids
(eNAs),
revolutionized
monitoring
due
their
noninvasive
nature
high‐resolution
capabilities
when
compared
traditional
survey
methods.
While
eNA
applications
grown
exponentially
over
past
decade,
methodological
inconsistencies
hinder
reproducibility
comparability.
To
assess
current
state
methodologies
in
ecology,
we
conducted
systematic
review
300
peer‐reviewed
studies
that
ecological
communities
diverse
Of
these
papers,
291
examine
eDNA,
four
eRNA,
five
consider
both
eDNA
eRNA.
The
small
number
eRNA
highlights
field
is
its
infancy.
looked
at,
found
clear
geographic
bias,
with
approximately
50%
all
occurring
six
high‐income
countries,
while
less
than
10%
occur
South
America
Africa.
Further,
report
lack
standardization
studies,
showing
high
variability
water
filtration
volume,
filter
material,
pore
size,
extraction
method,
marker
choice,
bioinformatic
pipelines.
We
further
highlight
incomplete
reference
sequence
databases
for
limit
taxonomic
assignment
inferences.
Finally,
identify
issue
community
ecology:
missing
details,
which
compromise
reproducibility,
especially
newly
emerging
applications.
facilitate
systems
permit
integration
monitoring,
recommend
improvement
alongside
guidelines
encourage
transparency.
Molecular Ecology Resources,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 22, 2025
ABSTRACT
Both
environmental
DNA
(eDNA)
and
RNA
(eRNA)
have
been
widely
adopted
for
biodiversity
assessment.
While
eDNA
often
persists
longer
in
environments,
eRNA
offers
a
more
current
view
of
biological
activities.
In
metabarcoding,
extracted
is
reverse
transcribed
into
complementary
(cDNA)
metabarcoding.
However,
the
efficacy
various
transcription
strategies
has
not
evaluated.
Here
we
compared
recovery
efficiency
three
strategies:
random
priming
with
hexamers,
oligo(dT)
taxa‐specific
using
Mifish‐U
fish
both
high‐
low‐biodiversity
regions.
Our
results
demonstrate
that
significantly
impact
recovery.
Random
consistently
detected
highest
number
taxa
low‐
high‐biodiversity
areas,
performed
comparably
to
hexamers;
however,
regions,
hexamers
outperformed
oligo(dT),
particularly
recovering
rare
taxa.
was
comparable
other
high‐abundance
taxa,
it
less
effective
thus
limiting
its
utility
comprehensive
These
differences
are
largely
due
multiple
binding
sites
fewer
or
absent
primers
under
high
degradation.
Combining
improved
recovery,
especially
low‐abundance
species,
supporting
best
practice
eukaryotes.
For
prokaryotes
genes
lacking
polyadenylation,
favoured
over
taxa‐
gene‐specific
priming.
Collectively,
these
findings
underscore
critical
importance
selecting
appropriate
significant
implications
monitoring
conservation
efforts.