Towards an Automated, In-Situ Environmental DNA Sensor for Detection of Marine Species

The collection and analysis of environmental DNA is slow, difficult and costly. To facilitate and broaden the use of eDNA technologies, an autonomous eDNA sensor has been designed for in-situ qPCR analysis. The eDNA sensor will provide results in near real-time, reporting the positive or negative detection of a target DNA sequence. The sensor is designed to operate fully autonomously, with on-board reagents, rechargeable batteries, and positive and negative controls. To verify sensor results and to enable a broader swath of lab-based analyses, archival samples are acquired in parallel with analyzed samples. Subsystems of sampling, extraction, and analysis have all been independently tested with promising results. The eDNA sensor presented here will enable same-day decision making regarding commercial activity, conservation efforts, and field research.