Direct PCR amplification and sequencing of specimens’ DNA from preservative ethanolShadi Shokralla, Gregory A. C. Singer and Mehrdad Hajibabaei
BioTechniques (2010) 48:3
http://www.biotechniques.com/BiotechniquesJournal/2010/March/Direct-PCR-amplification-and-sequencing-of-specimens-DNA-from-preservative-ethanol/biotechniques-187463.html
This study tested the hypothesis that DNA from a preserved specimen can leak into its preservative medium (allowing the medium itself to be directly PCR amplified) by obtaining amplifiable quantities of “worm” (agave caterpillar) DNA from the Mexican liquor mescal. Subsequent tests on 95% ethanol preservative of 70 freshly collected specimens and seven archival specimens 7–10 years old suggest that preservative ethanol can be used as a source of genetic material for non-invasive sampling or when no tissue specimen is left for further DNA analyses.
