Increasing eDNA capabilities with CRISPR technology for real-time monitoring of ecosystem biodiversity

The accelerating pace of scientific discovery is being driven by the development of transformative technologies that are expanding traditional scientific boundaries. In ecology, the concept that ecosystem structure can be monitored through the stew of genetic material released into the environment by local organisms is now a highly active area of research. At the same time that the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) has gained popularity in ecology, CRISPR genome editing technology has been revolutionizing organismal biology and the biomedical sciences. In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Williams et al. (2019) report about the fusion of CRISPR technology with molecular ecology to improve the in situ processing capabilities of eDNA applications. Piloting this new CRISPR technology on aquatic systems, the authors describe tools to accurately identify the presence of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from eDNA, using conditions that are highly amenable to implementation in the field. This overcomes a major barrier restricting the use of eDNA, opening a door to expanded use of the technology in ecological research.