This is the scientific American 60 second science. I'm Christopher in Tagyatta.

Caviar is one of the world's priciest foods. It can cost thousands of dollars a pound.

And caviar from the Baluga sturgeon is the most

exclusive of all but even the experts have a hard time telling the eggs from two

different species apart by appearance alone so scientists came up with a method that's more than meets the eye,

a genetic test that identifies variations in nuclear DNA that are unique to the Beluga and

its cousin the stirlet. The test can differentiate row of those two species

from that of eight other species of sturgeon. Best part, given Caviar's premium

price, the test requires just a single egg. The studies in the journal Scientific reports.

The researchers say that by definitively identifying the real stuff,

the test could prop up its high price. But the efforts not just of interest to the one percenters. Genetic verification

could also be used for conservation. Belugas are critically endangered. And since they

hybridize with other sturgeon species, conservation is need to make sure that farm-raised

fish they plan to reintroduce into the wild are the real thing, and not just a cheap look-alike.

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For Scientific American 60 Second Science,

I'm Christopher in Danyata.