Welcome to the environmental DNA (eDNA) research website at the University of Notre Dame.  Our work involves using novel surveillance techniques to detect the presence of organisms without direct observation.  Plants and animals shed cellular material in their surrounding environment, and this material can be collected and analyzed.  Traces of DNA extracted from environmental samples are used to determine if a target species have been in the vicinity using species specific molecular markers.

Projects presented here are the collaborative efforts of students and faculty members in the Center for Aquatic Conservation and Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame along with collaborators from local, state and federal management groups.

News:  March 1, 2011.  Mahon and colleague John Darling (USEPA) publish article in the peer reviewed scientific journal Environmental Research entitled “From molecules to management:  Adopting DNA-based methods for monitoring biological invasions in aquatic environments”.    Click HERE for full citation and link to PDF.

News:  February 18, 2011.  Mahon et al. manuscript on microfluidic molecular detection of invasive species published in PLoS One.  Click here for link to manuscript.

NEWS:  As an outreach project with Mrs. Jerde’s Grade 2 classroom at the O.M. Tiffany Elementary School in Aberdeen, South Dakota, the eDNA research group welcomes Mr. Flat Stanley as a visiting researcher for the next few weeks.  Mr. Stanley will go on numerous tours of campus and assist in our research before traveling back to South Dakota. 

Click HERE to follow Flat Stanley’s Notre Dame adventures!