Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Background and Environment Affect Phenotype

Although the genetic makeup of an organism plays a major role in determining the phenotype, there are also several environmental factors, such as temperature, oxygen availability, presence of mutagens, that can alter an organism’s phenotype.
An example of how genetic background affects phenotype can be seen in horses. The Extension gene in horses is responsible for their coat color. A wild-type gene (EE) produces black pigment in the coat, while a mutant gene (ee) produces red pigment. A...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030 For Americans Are Concerning For Liver Health.

The American journal of gastroenterology·2026

Same author

Diagnostic Accuracy of Noninvasive Tests for Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Steatotic Liver Disease Across Age, Type 2 Diabetes, and Obesity Subgroups: A Multinational Study.

Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association·2026

Same author

The Culture of Academic Medicine Initiative (CAMi): Advancing Systems-Level Wellbeing in Medical Education Through a National Change Management Approach.

Medical science educator·2026

Same author

Transient Elastography and Fibroscan: Stethoscope of a Hepatologist in Today's World.

Current hepatology reports·2026

Same author

Ecological and social pressures drive same-sex sexual behaviour in non-human primates.

Nature ecology & evolution·2026

Same author

Quantitative Comparison of SPECT and PET Performance for Clinical Theranostic Applications.

Journal of nuclear medicine : official publication, Society of Nuclear Medicine·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Continuous Noninvasive Measuring of Crayfish Cardiac and Behavioral Activities

Continuous Noninvasive Measuring of Crayfish Cardiac and Behavioral Activities

Published on: February 6, 2019

Behavior and season affect crayfish detection and density inference using environmental DNA.

Nicholas Dunn¹, Victoria Priestley¹, Alba Herraiz¹

¹Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London Ascot UK.

Ecology and Evolution

|October 19, 2017

Summary

Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection of invasive signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is more effective when females are egg-bearing. This finding aids in estimating aquatic invertebrate abundance and managing invasive species.

Keywords:

American signal crayfish aquatic invertebrates environmental DNA invasives quantitative PCR

More Related Videos

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Published on: November 5, 2020

Use of a Filter Cartridge for Filtration of Water Samples and Extraction of Environmental DNA

Use of a Filter Cartridge for Filtration of Water Samples and Extraction of Environmental DNA

Published on: November 25, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Continuous Noninvasive Measuring of Crayfish Cardiac and Behavioral Activities

Continuous Noninvasive Measuring of Crayfish Cardiac and Behavioral Activities

Published on: February 6, 2019

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Development and Testing of Species-specific Quantitative PCR Assays for Environmental DNA Applications

Published on: November 5, 2020

Use of a Filter Cartridge for Filtration of Water Samples and Extraction of Environmental DNA

Use of a Filter Cartridge for Filtration of Water Samples and Extraction of Environmental DNA

Published on: November 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Ecology
Environmental Science
Molecular Biology

Background:

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is increasingly used for aquatic invertebrate detection, but inferring population densities remains challenging.
The invasive American signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) threatens native crayfish populations in the UK.
Early detection and eradication of invasive species are crucial for conservation efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate factors influencing environmental DNA (eDNA) release by Pacifastacus leniusculus.
To determine if biomass, sex ratio, or fighting behavior affect eDNA concentration.
To assess the potential for eDNA to infer crayfish population densities.

Main Methods:

A factorial experimental design was used with aquaria to control variables.
Pacifastacus leniusculus biomass, sex ratio, and fighting behavior were manipulated.
Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was used to measure eDNA concentration in water samples.

Main Results:

Egg-bearing females significantly increased crayfish eDNA concentration per unit of mass.
A strong correlation between eDNA concentration and biomass was observed only when females were ovigerous.
Female-only tanks showed higher eDNA concentrations than male-only tanks; fighting did not significantly impact eDNA levels.

Conclusions:

Estimating aquatic invertebrate abundance using eDNA is most effective during the egg-bearing periods of females.
Seasonal reproductive cycles should be considered for accurate eDNA-based species detection and quantification.
This research provides critical insights for managing invasive crayfish and other aquatic invertebrates using eDNA methods.