01627nas a2200169 4500008004100000245009200041210006900133260004200202300001200244490000600256520106100262100002401323700001701347700002001364700002101384856005201405 2007 eng d00aDNA Extraction from Dry Museum Beetles without Conferring External Morphological Damage0 aDNA Extraction from Dry Museum Beetles without Conferring Extern bPublic Library of Sciencec2007/03/07 ae272 - 0 v23 aBackground

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 ≈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.

1 aGilbert, Thomas, P.1 aMoore, Wendy1 aMelchior, Linea1 aWorobey, Michael uhttp://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0000272