Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach in fisheries research in India

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is defined as the genetic material obtained from a water sample containing no distinguishing signs of source macroorganisms. The method utilizes DNA which is continuously excreted by organisms into the surrounding environment through mucus, gamates, faeces, blood and other cells, and captures, analyses and obtains the nucleotide sequence of this DNA based on an environmental sample. eDNA analysis has emerged as a potentially powerful tool to access aquatic community structures. Analysis of eDNA can give us information on the organisms, their abundance and biomass through two approaches – eDNA barcoding and eDNA metabarcoding. In the former, specific species are targeted in samples using standard or quantitative PCR, and using traditional Sanger sequencing method.