Animal and plant species can be identified by their DNA, typically using a short ‘DNA barcode’ fragment. This technique is useful in a range of scenarios: providing identification from an unknown or fragmentary specimen, identifying what is in a mixed sample, or detecting species in their environment without monitoring the species themselves. This final area, known by the acronym ‘eDNA’, is a rapidly developing field, already commercially available at Fera to detect the presence of Great Crested Newts in ponds without seeing or capturing the newts themselves. We are currently working on detecting the fish species present in lakes using DNA from water samples, and methods to capture DNA from water more effectively. eDNA has the potential to provide a lower cost and lower effort alternative to conventional survey methods.

Beyond identifying individual species, it can be necessary to consider the relationship between individuals and populations within a particular species. We use DNA sequence data and markers (typically microsatellites) to study factors such as routes of colonisation, how differentiated populations are from each other, levels of inbreeding within populations, and how individuals are related to each other. We have used these methods in a range of studies including investigating the origin and spread of invasive species, identifying and differentiating cultivars or races of cultivated plants, or providing data to model how new diseases may spread within established populations.

Harper, L.R., Buxton, A.S., Rees, H.C., Bruce, K., Brys, R., Halfmaerten, D., Read, D.S., Watson, H.V., Sayer, C.D., Jones, E.P. and Priestley, V., 2018. Prospects and challenges of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring in freshwater ponds. Hydrobiologia, pp.1-17.

Budge GE, Hodgetts J, Jones EP, Ostojá-Starzewski JC, Hall J, Tomkies V, Semmence N, Brown N, Wakefield M, Stainton K (2017) The invasion, provenance and diversity of Vespa velutina Lepeletier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Great Britain. PloS One, e0185172.

Herman JS, Jóhannesdóttir F, Jones EP, McDevitt AD, Michaux JD, White TA, Wójcik JM, Searle JB (2017) Post-glacial colonisation of Europe by the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus: evidence of a northern refugium and dispersal with humans. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 120, 313–332.

Haniza MZH, Adams S, Jones EP, MacNicoll A, Mallon EB, Smith RH, Lambert MS. (2015) Large-scale structure of brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) populations in England: effects on rodenticide resistance. PeerJ 3:e1458 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1458

Atterby H, Allnutt TR, MacNicoll AD, Jones EP, Smith GC (2014) Population genetic structure of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in the UK. Mammal Research, 60, 9-19.

Jones EP, Eager HM, Gabriel SI, Jóhannesdóttir F and Searle JB (2013) Genetic tracking of mice and other bioproxies to infer human history. Trends in Genetics, 29, 298-308.

Wang B, Ekblom R, Castoe TA, Jones EP, Kozma R, Bongcam-Rudloff E, Pollock D and Höglund J (2013) Transcriptome sequencing of black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) for immune gene discovery and microsatellite development.

2017: “Asian hornets”. Talk at the Bee Inspectors Technical Training Conference.