Sea Turtle Conservation and their Genetics

Amber Kuehn is a local marine biologist and a fourth-generation Blufftonian who serves as the Director of Sea Turtle Patrol Hilton Head Island. Growing up exploring the May River, she built her career around local marine conservation, public outreach, and education. She has volunteered on sea turtle nesting beaches for 26 years in locations including Hilton Head Island, Ft. Lauderdale, and Maui.

The program consists of three modules focused on sea turtles. The first module, "Sea Turtle Nesting 101," covers basic biology and nesting fundamentals, including an introduction to local sea turtle species, nesting seasons, the nesting process, and the incubation and emergence of hatchlings. The second module, "The Incredible Egg: Advanced Genetic Research," focuses on DNA extraction and analytical applications. It includes a live demonstration of extracting paternal DNA from egg samples, a step-by-step methodology for maternal genetic analysis, and an analysis of local DNA results from the past…