Dr Erica McAlisterDepartment of Life Sciences

Molecular storage facilities and their role in modern methods in taxonomy

Traditional methods for Entomological storage• Morphological taxonomy

– Pinned collection– Slide collection– Spirit collection

Plukenet – 1691 – 1692 Phytographia

Slide collection storage

Spirit collection storage

Wikipedia advice..• Zoology specimen• Wet specimens[edit]• "Wet" specimen collections are stored in

70% ethanol (EtOH) with various additives after fixing with 10% formalin. Modern specimens are stored in screw-top glass jars with polypropylene lids if they are small or stored in stainless steel tanks if they are large. Specimens are also stored in 10% formalin.

Different spirit preservations and impact on DNA recovery Mode of Fixation

Absolute ethanol

70-80% IMS

70-80% IMS

70-80% IMS

4% Formaldehyde

Ethyl Acetate

Subsequent preservation

Absolute ethanol

70-80% IMS

Critical point drying or similar

Air drying

70-80% IMS

Air dried

External Morphology

Poor to good

good good Good for some groups

Fair to good

Fair to good

DNA good Fair-good

Fair-good

fair poor Very poor

Adapted from Carter 2003

Problems of the past

• Light • Moisture• Temperature • Contamination

New Collection facilities for pinned material

New Collection facilities for spirit material

The missing collections….

Molecular Collection Facility – opened August 2012- 2 million samples of high quality genetic material

Molecular Collections Facilities • Medium term storage

– Cold storage +4oC– Frozen Storage -20oC– Ultracold storage -80oC

Molecular Collections Facilities • Long term storage

– Cryo-storage in liquid nitrogen

Molecular Collections Facilities • Ambient storage

Molecular Collections Facilities • Ambient storage

– FTA Whatman cards

Additional fieldwork techniques• Dry shipper

Molecular Collections Facilities

Conclusion• Long term storage • Compliance with legislation• Specimen and tissue databased

• Labelling

Questions?