Scientist looks for Loch Ness Monster DNA

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Scientist Launches Hunt For Mythic Loch Ness 'Monster DNA'

Theories abound about the true nature of the Loch Ness Monster, from a malevolent, shape-shifting "water horse", to an aquatic survivor of the dinosaur age, right down to logs, fish, wading birds or simply waves which have been blown out of all proportion.

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: June 17, 2018 10:05 IST

Inverness:  Tales of a giant creature lurking beneath the murky waves of Loch Ness have been around for more than 1,500 years -- and one academic hopes the marvels of modern science can finally unravel the mystery.

Neil Gemmell has travelled from the University of Otago in New Zealand to collect water samples in the Scottish lake, in the hope of finding out more about the creatures that inhabit its depths.

"Over 1,000 people claim that they have seen a monster. Maybe there is something extraordinary out there," he told AFP, as he dropped a five-litre probe into the loch.

Gemmell said he would be keeping an eye out for "monster DNA" but the project was more aimed at testing environmental DNA techniques to understand the natural world.

Full story:
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/loch-nes...na-1868708

Scientist Launches Hunt For Mythic Loch Ness 'Monster DNA'

Theories abound about the true nature of the Loch Ness Monster, from a malevolent, shape-shifting "water horse", to an aquatic survivor of the dinosaur age, right down to logs, fish, wading birds or simply waves which have been blown out of all proportion.

World | Agence France-Presse | Updated: June 17, 2018 10:05 IST
Full story:
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/loch-nes...na-1868708

If there's any guessing involved here, Ian I'm leaving it to Steve 001.

[Ninshub]

lol

The results of the DNA analysis are that there is no evidence of anything related to a Jurassic-age reptile, or evidence to support "other predominant theories of various giant fish; whether it be a giant catfish or a giant sturgeon, an eel, or even a shark such as a Greenland shark." However, there is plenty of eel DNA, so the findings are consistent with the theory that what's been seen is a large eel. The workers also acknowledge that their sampling may have missed a species that is present in the loch:
https://www.lochnesshunters.com/the-results

The prime minister, Boris Johnson, found time in his pressing schedule to comment on the findings, though he appeared not to have read them:
“A high concentration of eel DNA in the water, that does not seem to me to be conclusive proof of the non-existence of the Loch Ness Monster,” said the prime minister.
 “I am not taking that as conclusive proof of non-existence of the Loch Ness Monster.”
 Johnson added said: “As a kid I yearned to believe in it. I yearned ... part of me still does.”
 “Let me put in this way, there is a part of my soul that still yearns to believe.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/po...94011.html