Environmental DNA metabarcoding: an approach for biodiversity monitoring

Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid or environmental DNA (eDNA) is a term coined to define the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that can be recovered or detected in an environment (for example: soil, air, or water) sample. but not specimen physically present (metagenome). The objective of this review was to understand. analyze. and define the uses. applications, and potential of eDNA. eDNA brings together several fields ranging from ecological assessment for historical community reconstruction. ecosystem restoration to human health. making it extremely versatile and important for the future in research. such as studies of conservation. taxonomic. or phylogenetic reconstruction. To achieve this. the metabarcoding procedure is used. which is based on obtaining DNA of any origin (in this case eDNA), in the physical absence or not of organisms. with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). to finally sequence them and develop barcodes. The application of eDNA in biological research seems almost limitless. but it requires collaboration and coordination of scientific teams. eDNA studies will probably become an essential tool for different scientific tasks not only in monitoring biodiversity, but also in human health analysis or in the development of DNA barcodes.