Is Nessie the Loch Ness Monster or just the Loch Ness Eel?

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Could something of mythological proportions, in fact be only an eel -- just a really, really, really big one if it turns out to be true.

Scientists say they've cracked the mystery behind the Loch Ness Monster.

They've collected the genetic profiles of everything that lives in the Scottish lake and found nothing out of the ordinary.

>> Read more trending news

"We have no definitive evidence of a monster," Professor Neil Gemmell said during a press conference Thursday, according to NBC News.

Gemmell led the team that looked into trying to break the genetic code of the fabled monster.

He and his team collected 250 lake water samples last year and matched them to genetic sequences of known species.

Nothing matched what they would think comes from an extinct reptile, despite finding 3,000 different species, CNN reported.

Gemmell and his team also said Nessie isn't a giant fish. But there was a lot of one animal's DNA in the loch.

He said the team found more eel DNA than expected, and that most eels grow to between 4 and 6 feet long. However, Nessie sightings are usually of a bigger animal. The thing is, DNA can't tell you how big the creatures living in the lake are, but Gemmell said there are tests that could be done to see if Nessie is really just a giant eel, NBC News reported.

But Gemmell gave a glimmer of hope to those who really think an extinct creature swims around Loch Ness.

"There may well be a monster in Loch Ness, but we didn't find it," Gemmell said, according to CNN.

About the Author