New open access paper out in Environmental DNA.
Interfacial geochemical principles can help us understand what it takes for extracellular DNA to be retained and preserved across time and space.
The yellow strands moving in the movie is a Plasmid molecule that is tightly adsorbed to a charge dense chlorite (brucite) step edge and the part of the molecule bridging across the negativley charged mica surface is hardly interacting with the surface. Video is approx 400 nm across
We used the mineralogical composition of the Kap København Formation as a case study for applying interfacial geochemical concepts to address eDNA taphonomy.
In our manuscript we highlights how eDNA taphonomy is heavily influenced by the interactions between extracellular DNA and the mineral surface during pre-, syn-, and postsedimentological processes. Our findings highlight the enormous potential of mineralogic analysis, interfacial geochemical principles, and consideration of sedimentological processes for advancing the understanding of eDNA taphonomy and sediment provenance.
We anticipate that the use of mineralogical and sedimentological analyses will allow the eDNA community to:
Unlock promising new reservoirs of ancient eDNA,
Devise more robust eDNA sampling strategies,
Identify, and where needed, further develop optimal DNA extraction procedures,
Improve the resolution and scope of ecological interpretation from eDNA data.
We believe that the knowledge of sediment adsorption capacities and particle loading, and its integration with the information about the relationship between distal and proximal depositional environments, will go a long way in improving both present-day biodiversity assessments and ancient ecosystem reconstructions in future studies.
Read more here.