The Molecular Ecology Research Group (MERG) was set up at the South East Technological University in 2000. The initial aim of the group was to develop DNA techniques for monitoring pine marten populations in Ireland. An efficient novel real-time PCR method has been developed to identify species from non-invasively collected samples. The method has many advantages over traditional methods including sensitivity, cost and time required for analysis. The method is now being applied to wide range of mammals.