Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA
Environmental DNA (eDNA) samples that are collected from remote locations depend on rapid stabilization of the DNA. The degradation of eDNA in water samples is minimized when samples are stored at ≤ 4 °C. Developing a preservation technique to maintain eDNA integrity at room temperature would allow a wider range of locations to be sampled. We evaluated an ethanol and sodium acetate solution to maintain the integrity of the DNA samples for the time between collection and lab testing. For this evaluation, replicate water samples taken from a tank housing Asian carp were placed on ice or held at room temperature. At both temperatures, water samples were left untreated or were preserved with an ethanol and sodium acetate solution (EtOH–NaAc). Every day for 6 days following collection, a subset of the samples was removed from each preservation method and DNA was extracted and nuclear and mitochondrial markers were assayed with qPCR. Results showed comparable persistence of DNA between iced samples without the EtOH–NaAc treatment and samples that received EtOH–NaAc treatment that were kept at room temperature. We found that DNA can be amplified from preserved samples using an EtOH–NaAc solution after up to 7 days at room temperature.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2019 |
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Title | Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA |
DOI | 10.1007/s12686-017-0955-2 |
Authors | Bridget A. Ladell, Liza R. Walleser, S. Grace McCalla, Richard A. Erickson, Jon Amberg |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Conservation Genetics Resources |
Index ID | 70196720 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center |
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Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA: Data
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Ethanol and sodium acetate as a preservation method to delay degradation of environmental DNA: Data
This data contains environmental DNA (eDNA) sample assay results that were collected from water samples taken from a tank housing Asian carp and placed either on ice or at room temperature. At both treatment temperatures, water samples were left untreated or were treated with an ethanol and sodium acetate solution (EtOH-NaAc). This was done to evaluate an ethanol and sodium acetate solution to mai - Connect