Soybean Researcher Uses Drones to Aid Genetics Analysis

High throughput genetic analysis is a tool that allows researchers to analyze a lot of DNA data in a short period of time. The work is commonly done in a lab with scientific instruments. Larry Purcell uses it to evaluate thousands of agricultural test plots at once. He does it from a distance of 100 feet -- straight up. Using an off-the-shelf aerial drone, Purcell can identify those soybean plants that have the genetic make-up, or genotype, for high rates of nitrogen fixation.