If There Is a Monster in Loch Ness, This Geneticist Will Find It

In the depths of Loch Ness, a mystery has long captivated the world: the existence of the Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie. For centuries, sightings and tales have swirled around the iconic Scottish lake, but concrete evidence has remained elusive. Now, a geneticist from the University of Otago, New Zealand, is taking on the challenge to solve the enigma once and for all.

Neil Gemmell, a professor of genetics, is leading a team that will sequence as many DNA fragments as they can find in the murky waters of Loch Ness. The project, which began in April 2018 and will announce its findings by January 2019, aims to shed light on the lake's ecosystem and, potentially, the existence of Nessie.

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful tool that allows scientists to analyze samples from soil, water, or air to identify the species present in a given area. By comparing the DNA found in Loch Ness to a vast reference library of known species, Gemmell's team hopes to uncover any traces of the elusive creature.

While the prospect of finding Nessie is exciting, the project also has broader implications for the understanding of Loch Ness' ecosystem. Invasive species, such as salmon, pose a threat to native species, and the eDNA profile generated by the project will help monitor and manage these threats.

The search for Nessie has long been a source of intrigue and fascination, but it has also been the subject of skepticism and hoaxes. The most famous photograph of Nessie, taken in 1934, was later revealed to be a hoax created with a toy submarine and a fake "sea serpent" body. Despite numerous sightings and even sonar echoes, no physical evidence of Nessie has ever been found.

Gemmell, however, remains optimistic about the potential of eDNA to solve the mystery. "We have used the monster as the bait on the very big science hook," he said. "As soon as we talked about doing it in Loch Ness, we had a platform on which to communicate our science in a way that we never have been able to communicate it before."

As the team continues its work, the world watches with bated breath, hoping that the geneticist will finally unravel the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster. Whether Nessie is a plesiosaur, a giant sturgeon, or something else entirely, one thing is certain: the search for the truth will provide valuable insights into the lake's ecosystem and the power of eDNA as a scientific tool.