OTC-Genomics2:
"OTC-Rostock: Methodenentwicklung zur Umweltüberwachung aquatischer Lebensräume mittels eDNA (OTC GENOMICS2) - A"
The goal of the flagship project OTC-Genomics2 is to implement new innovative analytical methods based on microbial nucleic acids and free environmental nucleic acids (eDNA) from water samples into existing environmental monitoring procedures for aquatic habitats. In the first 2.5 years of the project duration, OTC-Genomics has developed the necessary foundational research, equipment development, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence (AI). Building on this, OTC-Genomics2 will: [1] spin off the eDNA technology for the direct detection of specific organisms in the aquatic environment and transfer it into the development of a start-up company; [2] further develop the molecular monitoring tool towards metagenomics and update the AI to reflect functional changes in the ecosystem and integrate them into quality assessments; [3] potentially collaborate with the start-up to incorporate and evaluate the eDNA technology in the environmental monitoring of the State Office for Environment, Nature Conservation, and Geology (LUNG, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern) as well as the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), testing its practicality for state offices and federal authorities. This will result in the development and evaluation of a user-friendly overall tool that possesses methodological standards and norms, enabling a forward-looking, cost-effective, and parameter-open environmental monitoring procedure. This tool will also be able to trace contamination events and will flow into another start-up company in the final project phase 3.
