X-Message-Number: 11551
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 06:29:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Doug Skrecky <>
Subject: ethylene glycol and DNA preservation

Authors
  Dillon N.  Austin AD.  Bartowsky E.
Institution
  Department of Crop Protection, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
Title
  Comparison of preservation techniques for DNA extraction
  from hymenopterous insects.
Source
  Insect Molecular Biology.  5(1):21-4, 1996 Feb.
Abstract
  Two species of parasitic wasp, Venturia canescens and Leptomastix dactylopii,
  were killed and preserved by various methods used for Hymenoptera and in
  mass-collecting devices. Total genomic DNA was subsequently extracted and a
  524 bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplified by PCR.
  Results for these techniques were compared with that for fresh material and
  museum specimens. Material from -80 degrees C, 100% ethanol, air-drying in a
  desiccator, and critical-point dried from alcohol all yielded good results
  after short and long-term storage, as did specimens from
  ethylene glycol but not formalin (the latter two being
  commonly used in pitfall and flight intercept traps). Specimens killed in
  ethyl acetate vapour and air-dried yielded very degraded DNA which did not
  successfully PCR. The use of this killing agent is a likely reason for
  previous reports of inconsistent results obtained from museum specimens, and
  the now widespread use of critical-point drying of wasps and other insects
  from alcohol is advocated as a potential source of DNA from rare taxa.

Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=11551