Noninvasive genetic sampling: look before you leap

• Published in: Trends in Ecology & Evolution
• Main Authors: Taberlet, P., Waits, L. P., Luikart, G.
• Other Authors: Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine (LECA), Université Joseph Fourier - Grenoble 1 (UJF)-Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB Université de Savoie Université de Chambéry )-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho Moscow, USA
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 1999
• Subjects: CONSERVATION GENETICS; DNA-POLYMERASE; URSUS-ARCTOS; NUCLEAR-DNA; FECAL DNA; PCR; MICROSATELLITES; POPULATION; AMPLIFICATION; PHYLOGEOGRAPHY; [SDE.BE]Environmental Sciences/Biodiversity and Ecology; [SDV.BID]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Biodiversity; [SDV.EE]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Ecology; environment; Ursus arctos
• Online Access: https://hal.science/halsde-00280570; https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5347(99)01637-7

Times Cited: 185 International audience Noninvasive sampling allows genetic studies of free-ranging animals without the need to capture or even observe them, and thus allows questions to be addressed that cannot be answered using conventional methods. Initially, this sampling strategy promised to exploit fully the existing DNA-based technology for studies in ethology; conservation biology and population genetics. However, recent work now indicates the need for a more cautious approach, which includes quantifying the genotyping error rate. Despite this, many of the difficulties of noninvasive sampling will probably be overcome with improved methodology.