How we can detect pretty much anything - Hélène Morlon and Anna Papadopoulou episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 18, 2026 · 8 MIN

How we can detect pretty much anything - Hélène Morlon and Anna Papadopoulou

from TED-Ed · host TED-Ed

Explore how scientists use environmental DNA (eDNA) in a technique called DNA metabarcoding to find and track species.--Scientists have been staking out a forest in Montana for an animal that’s notoriously tricky to find. Camera traps haven’t offered definitive evidence, and experts can’t identify its tracks with certainty. But within the past decades, researchers have developed methods that can detect even the most elusive species. So how does it work? Hélène Morlon & Anna Papadopoulou dig into DNA metabarcoding.Lesson by Hélène Morlon and Anna Papadopoulou, directed by Blok Magnaye.Support Our Non-Profit Mission----------------------------------------------Support us on Patreon: http://bit.ly/TEDEdPatreonCheck out our merch: http://bit.ly/TEDEDShop----------------------------------------------Connect With Us----------------------------------------------Sign up for our newsletter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdNewsletterFollow us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/TEDEdFacebookFind us on Twitter: http://bit.ly/TEDEdTwitterPeep us on Instagram: http://bit.ly/TEDEdInstagram----------------------------------------------Keep Learning----------------------------------------------View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-we-can-detect-pretty-much-anything-helene-morlon-and-anna-papadopoulouDig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-we-can-detect-pretty-much-anything-helene-morlon-and-anna-papadopoulou#digdeeperAnimator's website: https://www.blokmagnaye.com----------------------------------------------Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! David D, Zuko Gameplays, Jonathan Bates JBZ, Aria Smith, Mac Hyney, Keith Ellison, robin valero walters, Camehira, Lynne Truesdale, Gatsby Dkdc, Matthew Neal, Jayson Gasper Ayson, Jayson Murray, Maxwell Ramsby, Dmitry Yuryev, Kitick, Denis Chon, Julian Oberhofer, Monte Carroll, Eddy, Jay M, Constantino Victor Delgado, Andrea Galvagni, Andrew Tweddle, Laurel-Ann Rice, Fernando A. Endo, Helen Lee, pam morgan, sarim haq, Juan Pablo Rodriguez Morales, ANNE FINE, Gerardo Castro, Siddharth Toshniwal, Michel-Ange Hortegat, Enes Kirimi, Amaury BISIAUX, Aravind C V, ND, Samyogita Hardikar, Vandana Gunwani, LvL042, Abdulmohsin Almadi, Andrew Brodski, AJ Lyon, John van den Berg, Anandha Krishnan, Geoffrey Bultitude, Mi Mi, Thomas Rothert and Christopher McVay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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How we can detect pretty much anything - Hélène Morlon and Anna Papadopoulou

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