DNA and Life – a national citizen science project using eDNA to monitor invasive, rare and endangered species in Danish aquatic ecosystems.

The project has had many branches throughout the project period, including the currently active ‘DNA på Forkant’ (DNA in advance) which is in collaboration with ‘Foreningen af Danske Biologer” (the association of Danish biologist). The project uses eDNA and citizen science efforts to monitor the distribution and occurrence of specific aquatic species in Denmark.

We have a special focus and rare, invasive, toxic and endangered species. Danish high school students collect water samples all over the country and send them to one of our DNA-labs for extraction of DNA. The students may also participate in the laboratory work and prepare their sample for qPCR.