Scientist launches hunt for Loch Ness 'monster DNA'

INVERNESS, Scotland - Tales of a giant creature lurking beneath the murky waves of Loch Ness have been around for more than 1,500 years - and one academic hopes the marvels of modern science can finally unravel the mystery.

Neil Gemmell has traveled from the University of Otago in New Zealand to collect water samples in the Scottish lake, in the hope of finding out more about the creatures that inhabit its depths.

"Over 1,000 people claim that they have seen a monster. Maybe there is something extraordinary out there," he said as he dropped a 5-liter probe into the loch.