Mike Waller wrote:

> Maybe we could expand the equipment to identify DNA from bird fecal samples
> as well. Apparently it is possible with mammals. I understand that with
> enough sampling that DNA from animals in a specific geoographic can be
> identified. The process is being discussed as method of combating poaching.
> If you could map the DNA of a population of elephants or of Asian bears you
> would be able to tell where poached ivory or bear gall bladder originated
> making it more difficult to trafiic in wildlife artifacts. And while we're
> at it settle some speciation arguments on tweeters.

Sorry, Mike. The DNA you'll recover from fecal samples will be the DNA of
the animal's gut bacteria and the phage that grow in them. (And maybe
from sloughed gut epithelium, but it will all be mixed together.) I guess
it could be used to identify where an animal came from if you had some
animal poop, but it won't tell you anything about ivory or gall bladder,
and it won't answer any speciation questions--except maybe about
speciation in the bacteria and viruses.

Burt Guttman guttmanb at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College Voice: 360-866-6000, x. 6755
Olympia, WA 98505 FAX: 360-866-6794