Researchers have created a new tool — ToxChip — to analyze changes in the DNA of animals exposed to oil.
This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site.Author: Jennifer Provencher, Adjunct professor, Department of Biology, Carleton University and Yasmeen Zahaby, Masters Student, Department of Biology, Carleton University
This influx of new contaminants in the environment makes it challenging for researchers to monitor their effect on wildlife. After studying ways to monitor the quantity and variety of contaminants in Arctic wildlife, we have created a new tool — ToxChip — to analyze changes in the DNA of animals exposed to oil and solve this challenge.Article contentBetween 1995 and 2015, shipping traffic nearly tripled in the Canadian Arctic due to depleting sea ice.
The main compounds found in oil and petroleum products called polycyclic aromatic compounds, or PACs, can harm birds in the marine environment. When emitted through exhaust or spills, these chemicals make their way into wildlife and plants in the area. They easily attach to fat in animals and can accumulate in them throughout their lifetime.Seabirds are especially vulnerable to the effects of oil, as they feed on the water surface.
We have developed a new tool called a ToxChip, which investigates the effects of contaminants on the DNA level in sensitive genes. It can quickly detect changes in the genes of seabirds in response to a contaminant. The ToxChip can be customized to species, contaminants and genes of interest.
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