Porto researchers have developed technology that, when combined with a robot, allows DNA samples to be collected from the environment “fully autonomously” at depth, at low temperatures and in different parts of the Arctic, it was announced this Thursday.
In a statement this Thursday, the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) clarifies that the technology, called “biosampler”, was tested in the Arctic.
After testing the technology, also developed by the Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR), the researchers attached it to a robot built by the INESC TEC team.
The technology “is” a cylindrical sensor that allows the collection of eDNA samples “completely autonomously.”
EDNA, or environmental DNA, is collected from fragments that species shed as they move, namely from skin cells, waste and other body fluids.
The operation took place at a depth of 15 meters in waters with low temperatures resulting from the melting of glaciers located in the fjords of the Arctic archipelago of Spitsbergen.
Compared to other sampling systems, this technology “has several advantages,” says Alfredo Martins of INESC TEC, namely that it operates autonomously, at depth and at low water temperatures.
“It was another engineering challenge,” he adds, as quoted in the statement.
The statement also mentions researcher Catarina Magalhães from CIIMAR, highlighting the importance of technology in understanding the impacts of climate change on biological communities in the Arctic.
“This technology will revolutionize the current capabilities for biological monitoring of marine ecosystems, which is especially important in the Arctic Ocean, where understanding the impacts of climate change is critical,” he says.
According to the institute, the technology allows for “programming of collection times and dates,” the collection of more samples and reduced contamination since filtration is carried out “on site,” and the delivery of ready-made samples. for analysis in the laboratory.
Samples collected during the expedition are currently being analyzed by CIIMAR researchers, who will extract and sequence eDNA to assess the autonomous system’s capabilities “in assessing the biodiversity of remote environments.”
The researchers believe that within the next two years they will be able to make the technology work at a depth of 1,000 meters.
Until then, work will be carried out in external environments such as the Arctic, and human intervention will still be necessary if the intention is to collect samples from depths greater than 40 meters.
“The biosampler is expected to maintain, in a short period of time, the conditions in both depth and temperature necessary to overcome these problems,” the institute adds.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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