Aaron Aunins loading a plate of Polymerase Chain Reaction product

Dr. Aaron Aunins, a Biologist at the Leetown Science Center, loading a plate of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) product on the droplet digital PCR reader for DNA copy number quantification.

Quantification of environmental DNA (eDNA) from water samples can provide a sensitive tool for the detection of rare taxa that are difficult to detect with traditional biomonitoring methods. Dr. Aaron Aunins has been working with biologists at Great Smoky Mountains National Park to develop molecular techniques for detecting rare fish and aquatic invertebrate taxa within the park through the characterization of eDNA collected from water samples.  In this photo, Dr. Aunins is loading a plate of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) product from an assay designed to detect the endangered smoky madtom (Noturus baileyi) onto the droplet digital PCR reader. This instrument can detect very low copy numbers of DNA from environmental samples, providing an extremely sensitive tool for surveying different streams in the park for the presence of the madtom, and other species of interest.