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Hunt is on to find Loch Ness Monster's genes


By Nicole Webber

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Selfie-style: Researcher Adrian Shine with scientist Neil Gemmell.
Selfie-style: Researcher Adrian Shine with scientist Neil Gemmell.

A SCIENTIST from New Zealand believes he can finally uncover the mysteries of Loch Ness.

Neil Gemmell, geneticist and professor at the University of Otago, travelled to Drumnadrochit to meet researchers at the Loch Ness Project and has plans in place to return next summer with equipment and funding to collect water samples.

Mr Gemmell (50) said: “I’ve been interested in the monster myth for a long time.

"I saw some tweets by Darren Naish – he had just published the book Hunting Monsters and I wondered if anyone had used environmental DNA technology on Loch Ness so I started making enquires.”

Mr Gemmell plans to start crowdfunding for the research. He believes it will cost around £100,000 to undertake the project.

He has already been approached by companies looking to make TV documentaries and has been offered help with boats and people power from Adrian Shine at the Loch Ness Project.

He added: “I don’t believe in the Loch Ness Monster but I am open to the idea of something unusual living in the loch.

“It is a great opportunity to have an adventure, to explore what is at those depths and hopefully shed some light on the loch’s mysteries.”


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