We are moored safely in Matinicus Harbor. Will see what the weather brings for tomorrow. Good luck on the home front. Genetic Sampling . . Answering these questions is not only interesting but also extremely important to the conservation of endangered species.
Genetic data is obtained from tissue samples collected from individual animals.
Unfortunately, sloughed skin can only be collected on an opportunistic basis and may not provide enough of a sample to work with. Tissue samples are more commonly obtained through a process called 'biopsy sampling'. During biopsy sampling, a small sample is obtained by firing a modified arrow from a cross bow. When the arrow bounces off the whale, it retains tissue in the sampling tip and floats at the surface until it can be collected again. In fact, we observe the same range of reactions when a whale is missed entirely, indicating to us that most individuals are simply startled by the procedure.