4 ms·
They'd never know.
by fixxer 12y ago
They'd never know.
- giarc 12y agoI'm not a vet, but I don't imagine ivory contains any DNA so therefore customers couldn't test it for proper rhino/elephant DNA. Would be able to test it with something like MALDI-TOF to properly identify it, but that is not easily accessible outside of academia.
- matthewmarkus 12y agoYou can get DNA from Ivory. http://www.pnas.org/content/104/10/4228.full http://www.pnas.org/content/104/10/4228.full Bioengineering wildlife products is something my start-up, Pembient, has been working on for a while now.
- giarc 12y agoInteresting, are the tusks vascularized or is the DNA material coming from the interface between tusk and growth center? If the later, could poaches therefore prevent tracking with proper cleaning and preparation of the tusks? Checked out Pembient, very cool idea and I hope you succeed. Also subscribed to newsletter.
- matthewmarkus 12y agoThanks! Tusks are similar to teeth, so there is a nerve root, etc. https://www.thedodo.com/community/Elegirl/the-truth-about-tusks-648225506.html https://www.thedodo.com/community/Elegirl/the-truth-about-tu... Taking just the tip of a tusk might be the best option for evading a DNA test.