ChXout Applied Genetics

13/10/2026

Great to see our local fungi enthusiasts out and about in Co. Durham.

With the recent rain fungi are springing up all around us and many citizens scientists are making good use of our DNA ID services as an aid to taxonomy.

Keep the samples coming folks !

Some recent fabulous fungi finds.🍄‍🟫
📷 Paul Cleasby

12/10/2026

Have you seen an Asian hornet? Your photo could help protect UK pollinators. If you spot a large dark hornet with yellow legs (about 20–25mm), safely take a picture and report it through the Asian Hornet Watch app as soon as you can.

The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina) is an invasive species, first seen in mainland UK in Gloucestershire in 2016. A single colony can eat tens of thousands of insects in a season, including vital pollinators. Thanks to rapid reporting and nest destruction, it’s not yet established here – and we want to keep it that way.

At chXout, our DNA-based species identification supports invasive species monitoring when visual ID is uncertain, helping experts confirm what’s really out there.

Please photograph and report any suspected Asian hornet through the Asian Hornet Watch app, then head to our blog to read the full article.

10/10/2026

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet they support an estimated 25% of marine species. As sea temperatures rise, corals expel the symbiotic algae they rely on and bleach, losing vital energy and resilience. At the same time, agricultural runoff, pesticides, sewage, plastics and overfishing are piling on the pressure. With less time to recover between disturbances, many reefs are being damaged again before they have healed.

These ecosystems protect coastlines, support fisheries and provide crucial breeding habitat. There is still time to better understand and protect them. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis helps researchers detect which species are present from just a water sample, complementing traditional survey methods and giving us a clearer picture of reef biodiversity.

Watch the video, then read the full “Coral Reefs Under Siege” article on our blog, and get in touch with chXout to talk about eDNA and biodiversity monitoring.

08/10/2026

Meet the stone curlew – Britain’s eerie “ghost bird”. Standing around 40cm tall with striking yellow eyes and long pale legs, it can be almost impossible to spot as it stays remarkably still by day, only becoming active at dusk with a haunting call.

Stone curlews nest on bare ground in little more than a shallow scrape among stones, leaving them extremely vulnerable to disturbance. Agricultural change in the 19th and 20th centuries destroyed much of this habitat and by 1985 fewer than 150 pairs were left across the UK. Thanks to careful habitat protection, Breckland now supports more than 220 breeding pairs – but this fragile recovery also has to safeguard rare wildflowers, insects, reptiles and other ground-nesting birds.

Discover the full story on our blog and get in touch with chXout about species identification and eDNA surveys to learn more about the wildlife around you.

08/10/2026

Great to see our local fungi enthusiasts out and about in County Durham.

With the recent rain fungi are springing up all around us and many citizens scientists are making good use of our DNA ID services as an aid to taxonomy.

🍄 Keep the samples coming folks! 🍄

Some recent fabulous fungi finds.🍄‍🟫
📷 Paul Cleasby

07/10/2026

The stone curlew – sometimes called Britain’s “ghost bird” – came close to vanishing from our landscapes, with fewer than 150 pairs in the UK by 1985. Thanks to decades of habitat protection, Breckland alone now supports more than 220 breeding pairs.

But these gains are still fragile. The same protected ground that shelters stone curlew also holds rare wildflowers, insects, reptiles and other ground‑nesting birds – all vulnerable if habitats are lost or fragmented. That’s why decisions that weigh development against wild space need solid evidence.

DNA tools such as species identification, eDNA surveys and population genetics are helping to build that evidence base and guide smarter conservation.

Read the full story in “The Future of Britain’s Ghost Bird” on our blog and get in touch to explore how conservation genetics could support your next project.

06/10/2026

Could a chicken really change s*x? Not quite – but hens can sometimes start to look and act more like cockerels 🐔

In our latest blog, we explore how a hen’s left o***y usually does all the work while the right g***d stays dormant. If that active o***y is damaged or slows down with age, the dormant tissue can wake up and produce male hormones. The result? A hen with a larger comb and wattles, different feathering and even an attempt at a crow. She is still genetically female, cannot make s***m and cannot fertilise eggs.

Curious? Read the full post on our blog at chxout.com and get in touch to learn more about our bird DNA s*xing service.

29/09/2026

How can a tiny feather, a swab or a hair sample unlock big answers about the wildlife around us?

ChXout® is a UK-based applied genetics lab in Durham, working with everyone from breeders and falconers to ecologists and citizen scientists who are curious about the animals in their care or on their patch.

We specialise in:
• Bird s*xing (including species that are visually identical)
• Species identification
• Parentage testing
• Fungal identification
• Bat identification
• Beaver s*xing

By turning high-quality DNA results into clear answers, we help people make better decisions about breeding, welfare and conservation. For example, knowing the s*x of a visually similar pair of birds can shape an entire breeding season or conservation plan.

If you’re fascinated by the natural world and want more certainty behind your observations, our team is here to help you bring genetics into your work with wildlife.

Find out more about how DNA testing could support your next project on our website.

27/09/2026

If you could tell the s*x of a bird from a single feather, what would that change for your work with wildlife?

Here’s a simple look at how DNA s*xing fits into everyday decisions.

1. A feather or swab is collected safely from the bird.
2. It comes into our Durham lab, where we carefully extract the DNA.
3. We run tests that reveal whether the bird is genetically male or female.

For a small breeder planning next season’s pairing, that result can decide which birds join a breeding programme. For conservation projects, it can shape how birds are grouped or released.

The aim is straightforward: clear, reliable answers that support better welfare, breeding and conservation choices.

Curious about what kind of samples are suitable, or typical turnaround times? Pop your questions in the comments and we’ll happily talk through the options.

25/09/2026

Have you ever had a wildlife mystery you just couldn’t quite solve?

Maybe a tricky bird ID, an unexpected breeding result, or behaviour that didn’t match what the field guide said. We’d love to hear about it.

Share one recent puzzle you’ve come across in the comments:
• What did you see?
• What clues did you have (photos, calls, behaviour, location)?
• What did you suspect was going on?

Our team at ChXout® will read through and offer practical thoughts on when genetics might help, and when field observations alone can do the job.

Prefer to keep details private? You’re welcome to drop us a message instead. Let’s turn those mysteries into useful insights for your birds, bats, beavers and beyond.