Genetics Research
In 2025, we participated for the 10th year in the loggerhead DNA research project at the University of Georgia. For a two-week period, June 15-28, we submitted one egg from 23 loggerhead nests instead of all (127) loggerhead nests. By collecting and submitting the top egg in each of our loggerhead nests, the University of Georgia lab is able to analyze each for the mother’s DNA.. The DNA uniquely identifies each mother turtle. From these results we can determine if, where, and when a particular female turtle has nested on Amelia Island or other participating research beaches (North Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina). This research has produced exciting results. This project is headed up by Dr Brian Shamblin, who sumarizes the project in this video Meet Dr. Brian Shamblin, Sr. Research Scientist, UGA (sponsored by One Hudred Miles, an orgization that protects and preserves Georgia’s 100-mile coast through advocacy, education, and citizen engagement). Northeast Florida joined the project in 2016.
Our participation in 2026 is pending.
Results for 2024 and 2025 are still pending.
Look at partial results including 2023
Look at partial results including 2022
Look at partial results including 2019 and 2020.
Look at the results from 2018.
Look at the results from 2017.
Look at the results from 2016.
See also UGA genetic fingerprinting project details
We will continue to share results as they become available. In 2023 the project lost a major part of its funding. It costs approximately $30 to collect, analyze, and archive each genetic sample. If you would like to consider a donation to support this very important research, please see UGA Genetics Future Plans and Funding Request
More on the genetics project:
NRU Sea Turtle Genetics Project Facebook Page
Dr Brian Shamblin, Sea Turtle SAFE Expert Webinar, April 2024
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