The Ubiquity of Human DNA: Implications for Science and Privacy
Researchers at the University of Florida have found that human DNA is present in environmental DNA samples, which could be used to monitor human populations for genetic issues. However, preventing contamination of samples with human DNA is difficult. Additionally, the possibility of individual-level tracking using eDNA-based monitoring is exciting to researchers but may not be acceptable to humans. As genetic sequencing methods improve, the use of environmental DNA sampling for population health monitoring is likely to increase.