Letter to the Editor, Forensic Science International Defining specificity in DNA detection of wildlife: Response to Goncalves et al. ‘‘The risks of using ‘‘species-specific’’ PCR assays in wildlife research: The case of red fox (Vulpes vulpes) identification in Tasmania’’
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EARLIER on Tasmanian Times …
• Andrew Miller, Stock & Land: Science vs tall tales in the feral battle IT WAS a famous line, from an iconic television series – Seinfeld. “Jerry, just remember. It’s not a lie … if you believe it.” Wise advice to Jerry Seinfeld – and perhaps a lesson to be heeded when it comes to seeking the elusive Tasmanian fox.
• Dr David Obendorf, in Comments: This ‘war of words’ would be assisted if Dr [b]Stephen Sarre[/b] had done what scientists normally do when publishing a paper with such an extraordinarily confident title: [i]’Foxes are now widespread in Tasmania: DNA detection defines the distribution of this rare but invasive carnivore.'[/i] And that is, to have openly accessible for all to examine the technical data that supports your direct assertion embodied in the title of your paper. This paper published in the [i]Journal of Applied Ecology[/i] in December 2012 did not provide that data. Authors have the opportunity to include such technical data as [i]Supporting Information[/i] to their published science paper; in this case no such data was included. Dr [b]Ivo Edwards[/b] amongst many others have requested it (on several ocassions) and to date it has not been provided by Dr Sarre’s Institute of Applied Ecology. This has been one of the concerns the independent science panel reviewing the Tasmanian Fox Program has formally taken to the Vice-Chancellor of Dr Sarr’e University – the University of Canberra. Dr Sarre, you can assist this process of understanding your application of molecular science by making the technical data you relied on to make this strong statement accessible to all. Thank you.
• Andrew Miller, Stock & Land: The Great Fox Fable THE call has been made for a full police investigation into Tasmania’s Fox Eradication Program (FEP) after Tasmanian Agriculture Minister Jeremy Rockliff confirmed the program had been wound up, after nearly 13 years. “There is no evidence that foxes have been detected since July 2011; however, it is important we remain vigilant,” Mr Rockliff told an estimates committee hearing recently. However, Tasmanian Member for Windemere Ivan Dean said it was now time for a police investigation into the activities of the Fox-Free Task Force and the program, which is estimated to have cost between $30 million and $50m …
• Stock and Land’s Editorial, cartoon and Nick Mooney letter …
