This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Monitoring marine life helps scientists track ecosystem health, improve conservation and manage fisheries. A promising approach is environmental DNA (eDNA), which refers to trace genetic material naturally released into the water by organisms, such as skin cells, mucus and excreta.
By analyzing eDNA in water samples, scientists can determine which species are present in a given body of water without physically capturing or observing the organisms. This method is important for monitoring marine ecosystems and conserving biodiversity. In practical applications, however, DNA concentrations in seawater are extremely low, making it difficult for traditional membranes to capture it effectively.
A research team from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), in collaboration with researchers from several other universities, has developed a functionalized membrane that significantly improves the efficiency of collecting and detecting eDNA from marine organisms, providing a more sensitive and reliable tool for monitoring marine biodiversity. The CityUHK team was led by Professor Kenneth Leung Mei-yee, vice president (research) and director of the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH), and Professor Zeng Zhiyuan from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the SKLMEH. The study, titled "A tailored MoS2 membrane with strong DNA-binding capability enhances aquatic biota detection through environmental DNA metabarcoding," was published in National Science Review.
The research team coated the surface of a common membrane with an ultrathin layer of the 2D material molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂), enabling the membrane to capture DNA in water more effectively. Experimental results showed that the membrane significantly improved the detection sensitivity of fish eDNA in laboratory and field tests. In controlled experiments, the researchers used the membrane to accurately identify a variety of tropical coral reef fish, including Acanthurus dussumieri, Chrysiptera cyanea, Dascyllus trimaculatus, Microcanthus strigatus and Paracanthurus hepatus.
For field testing, the research team conducted sampling at Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. The results showed that the membrane could detect a greater number of fish species, including anchovies, flathead gray mullet and carangid fish, without affecting the overall assessment of the fish community, demonstrating its potential for practical marine monitoring. "The membrane is simple to prepare and cost-effective, and can be directly integrated into existing water sampling filtration processes.
It is expected to find future applications in marine conservation, ecological surveys and long-term environmental monitoring, and is particularly suitable for use in marine areas rich in biological resources but difficult to survey," Leung noted. He added that the Ministry of Ecology and Environment is promoting the use of eDNA technology in biodiversity surveys and that the research team's technology will support its development. Liang Mei et al, A tailored MoS2 membrane with strong DNA-binding capability enhances aquatic biota detection through environmental DNA metabarcoding, National Science Review (2026).
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