How can the origin of meat be identified when it is no longer possible to tell from its appearance which animal it came from? Molecular genetics provides the answer, and visitors to the CZU stand at Země živitelka 2026 will have an opportunity to learn more about it.
The 52nd edition of the international agricultural fair will take place at the České Budějovice Exhibition Grounds from 20 to 25 August 2026. Genetic analysis of confiscated animal products seized at Václav Havel Airport Prague will be featured on the programme on the second day of the fair, Friday, 21 August. Visitors will learn, for example, how scientists use DNA analysis to uncover the illegal trade in protected species and help prevent the spread of dangerous diseases. More details are provided in an interview with Dr Barbora Bolfíková from the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences.
What will you present from the field of molecular genetics at the CZU stand?
At our stand, we will guide visitors through the entire journey from a biological sample to determining its origin using DNA. They will be able to examine various types of biological samples and animal materials we work with in our research, such as faeces, tissues, scales and skulls, as well as objects similar to those commonly confiscated during border inspections.
We will explain why it is often impossible to determine simply by looking at a processed product or piece of meat which animal it came from, and how DNA can help us identify its origin. We will take visitors through the whole process – from collecting the sample and conducting laboratory analysis to comparing the genetic information obtained with databases and evaluating the result.
Is it possible to identify an animal species even from a small piece of dried or cooked meat?
Very often, yes. A relatively small amount of material is sufficient for genetic analysis. Drying, cooking, smoking and other types of processing gradually damage DNA and break it down into shorter fragments, but this does not necessarily mean its destruction. That is precisely why short DNA sequences are used for highly processed or degraded samples, as they are more likely to remain intact.
The success rate naturally depends on the type and intensity of processing, and in some cases, the DNA may already be too badly damaged. However, species identification is possible for many dried, cooked or otherwise processed meat products. Genetic methods are particularly useful in these cases because the origin of the material can often no longer be determined from its appearance at all.
What interesting findings have you already made using this method?
In cooperation with the Customs Administration, we analysed materials confiscated from passengers at Václav Havel Airport to determine which animal species were actually present in transported meat and other products. A large proportion consisted of products from domestic and farm animals, but we also identified products originating from strictly protected species among the samples.
The results also showed that transporting such products is not merely a matter of nature conservation and regulatory compliance. Animal products can also provide a route for various pathogens to spread across borders. Visitors to our stand will learn exactly what we discovered in the confiscated luggage and which findings surprised us most.
Read the full interview on the ŽIVÁ UNIVERZITA website.