Pulling lifesaving data out of thin air, literally
30/07/2024 ,
Scientists from FAO and the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge enter a cave in Kampot, Cambodia to collect animal DNA samples from the air using a drone and air sampler
©FAO/Rindu Putri
Utilizing a non-invasive technique, the team employs drones to pull environmental DNA (eDNA) — traces of genetic material from hair, feathers, saliva and even pollen — from the air itself in the pursuit to prevent zoonotic diseases before they start.