The Natural History Museum of Nice invited us to visit its DNA laboratory. A unique laboratory that is the pride of the city.
Opened in 1846, the Natural History Museum is the oldest museum in Nice. Behind its sleepy image, the museum is actually very active with real research work conducted by its DNA laboratory located at the back. It is also the only regional DNA laboratory in France and is one of only two museums with a DNA laboratory, along with the Musée de l’Homme in Paris.
A Great Work for Biodiversity
This laboratory is responsible for collecting numerous species to advance research on the territory’s biodiversity. The anthology collections manager explains the steps here with the region’s field mouse species, “first with a preservation of the skin, on the other side we’ll keep the skull, and then the specimen’s DNA.” All of this is to “allow determining the species” to understand how it reproduces and how it lives.
The Natural History Museum of Nice today boasts over a million specimens. These collections help document the scientific knowledge of all these eras. The goal is to work on biodiversity with DNA. It is a research venue used for the benefit of the region’s biodiversity as well as for the city, which aims to remain green.
