At the lab of Forest Genetics in the Thünen Institute, GTTN Communications recently had the chance to observe how genetic timber tracking and species identification work in practice and produce a video to explain this method of wood analysis. It is a complex technical process, with every step being executed meticulously precise and sterile, to avoid contamination. From scraping the upper layer of a wood sample away over a spinning machine the “Bead Ruptor” pulverizing the sample, to the heating block warming up the sample for five hours to extract the DNA: it is a fascinating procedure, and so far the only method to identify not only the species but also the origin of timber. Ideally, scientists can then tell whether the wood comes from Africa, South America or Asia (and sometimes they can even differentiate between regions) to guarantee a reliable and precise classification.
