New DNA sampling study could finally discover if Loch Ness monster exists

Is there really a prehistoric – or even extraterrestrial – monster trapped for centuries in the icy waters of Scotland’s Loch Ness?

Scientific studies have never found a monster – but that hasn’t stopped Nessie fans regularly sighting the beast.

But a new study could answer the question once and for all – sampling the waters of the lake to see for DNA to see what species live there.

University of Otago professor Neil Gemmell will take 300 samples from the lake, and filter it for organic material.

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• The DNA in the organic material will be compared against a database of species – to see if there’s anything there.

  He will have answers by the end of this year.

  Gemmell says, ‘I’m going into this thinking it’s unlikely there is a monster, but I want to test that hypothesis.

  ‘What we’ll get is a really nice survey of the biodiversity of the Loch Ness.’