DNA extraction from dry museum beetles without conferring external morphological damage.

M Thomas P Gilbert; Wendy Moore; Linea Melchior; Michael Worobey

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000272

DNA extraction from dry museum beetles without conferring external morphological damage.

M Thomas P Gilbert, Wendy Moore, Linea Melchior, Michael Worobey

Microbiology

172 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, the recovery of nucleic acids from such specimens has involved at least the partial destruction of the specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, such as type specimens. METHODOLOGY: We describe a method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to amplify approximately 220 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, and 250-345 bp fragments of the multi-copy, nuclear 28s ribosomal DNA gene, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method on beetles collected up to 50 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This method offers a means of obtaining useful genetic information from rare insects without conferring external morphological damage.
Udgivelsesdato: 2007-null

Original language	English
Journal	PLoS ONE
Volume	2
Issue number	3
Pages (from-to)	e272
ISSN	1932-6203
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000272
Publication status	Published - 2007

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10.1371/journal.pone.0000272

Cite this

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title = "DNA extraction from dry museum beetles without conferring external morphological damage.",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, the recovery of nucleic acids from such specimens has involved at least the partial destruction of the specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, such as type specimens. METHODOLOGY: We describe a method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to amplify approximately 220 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, and 250-345 bp fragments of the multi-copy, nuclear 28s ribosomal DNA gene, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method on beetles collected up to 50 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This method offers a means of obtaining useful genetic information from rare insects without conferring external morphological damage. Udgivelsesdato: 2007-null",

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T1 - DNA extraction from dry museum beetles without conferring external morphological damage.

AU - Gilbert, M Thomas P

AU - Moore, Wendy

AU - Melchior, Linea

AU - Worobey, Michael

PY - 2007

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N2 - BACKGROUND: A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, the recovery of nucleic acids from such specimens has involved at least the partial destruction of the specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, such as type specimens. METHODOLOGY: We describe a method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to amplify approximately 220 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, and 250-345 bp fragments of the multi-copy, nuclear 28s ribosomal DNA gene, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method on beetles collected up to 50 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This method offers a means of obtaining useful genetic information from rare insects without conferring external morphological damage. Udgivelsesdato: 2007-null

AB - BACKGROUND: A large number of dry-preserved insect specimens exist in collections around the world that might be useful for genetic analyses. However, until now, the recovery of nucleic acids from such specimens has involved at least the partial destruction of the specimen. This is clearly undesirable when dealing with rare species or otherwise important specimens, such as type specimens. METHODOLOGY: We describe a method for the extraction of PCR-amplifiable mitochondrial and nuclear DNA from dry insects without causing external morphological damage. Using PCR to amplify approximately 220 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I, and 250-345 bp fragments of the multi-copy, nuclear 28s ribosomal DNA gene, we demonstrate the efficacy of this method on beetles collected up to 50 years ago. CONCLUSIONS: This method offers a means of obtaining useful genetic information from rare insects without conferring external morphological damage. Udgivelsesdato: 2007-null

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DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0000272

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SN - 1932-6203

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