Submission of tissues for DNA extraction followed by library preparation

• The Mini-Core can extract DNA from high-quality tissues.

• We will not work with highly degraded samples, herbarium specimens, old leaf tissues and other low-quality samples.

• In all cases, recently collected samples are preferred

  • We are unable to process formalin-fixed samples

• For challenging to extract species (i.e. many plants, marine invertebrates, small insects), or very small species or samples:

  • If possible, please provide additional or backup samples for extraction troubleshooting.

  • If there are known extraction protocols that work for your species, please share them with us!

    • Attach them during sample submission or contact Andrew Tully (andrewtully@g.ucla.edu)

• We cannot accept samples that are potentially infectious to humans 

See more details for these specific sample types below:

Plants

Insects and Other Small Animals

Vertebrate Soft Tissues

Vertebrate Hard Tissues

Blood

Plants

• Submit at least 1g of leaf tissue per sample.

  • Fresh, young leaf tissue is very much preferred.

  • We will not work with herbarium specimens

• If possible, flash freeze the tissue in individually labeled cryotubes or aluminum foil envelopes in liquid nitrogen and then store at -20°C or -80°C. Transport flash-frozen samples on dry ice.

• Fresh samples may also be desiccated with silica-gel beads and placed individually in a manila paper envelope. Ensure that all samples have been thoroughly desiccated prior to shipping.

• Please contact Andrew Tully (andrewtully@g.ucla.edu) if your plant does not have leaves.

Insects and Other Small Animals

• Submit entire individuals or at least 0.2g of material per sample.

• Avoid feeding samples prior to collection, to avoid isolating food DNA and microbial content. This will lower your on-target sequences and your final coverage.

• If providing partial animals, please attempt to exclude the gut.

• If possible, flash-freeze individuals or samples in cryotubes in liquid nitrogen, store at -20°C, and ship on dry ice.

• Alternatively, store individuals or samples in ethanol (75%-99%) at -20°C and ship with frozen ice packs or dry ice.

• Please do not submit live animals.

• If you cannot submit an entire individual, and feel as if the individual does not contain enough tissue for extraction, please submit additional individuals if possible. Contact Andrew (andrewtully@g.ucla.edu) with questions.

 Vertebrate Soft Tissues

• Soft tissues (such as spleen, liver, heart, and muscle) are strongly recommended. They will give you better data.

• Submit at least 0.2g of material per sample.

• Soft tissues should be divided into roughly 0.5cm3 pieces (multiple pieces per tube is fine).

• Newly collected samples should be rinsed with cold saline to remove blood and other contaminants prior to freezing.

• If possible, flash-freeze individuals or samples in cryotubes in liquid nitrogen, store at -20°C, and ship on dry ice.

• Alternatively, store individuals or samples in ethanol (75%-99%) at -20°C and ship with frozen ice packs or dry ice.

 Vertebrate Hard Tissues

***Hard tissues may require additional extraction attempts and special handling. Please contact Andrew (andrewtully@g.ucla.edu) to discuss your options before creating a submission with hard tissues.

• Hard tissues include skin, scales, feathers, fin clips, claws, and other tissue types are difficult to work with and often produce poor results.

• For small samples, if possible submit additional material (i.e. multiple claws, feathers, or fin clips) to maximize extraction success.

• Submit at least 0.2g of extractable material (not just keratin) per sample.

• Store samples in ethanol (75%-99%) at -20°C and ship with frozen ice packs or dry ice.

 Blood

• For species with nucleated red blood cell (birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians), please send at least 30µl per sample.

  • For smaller species, provide a minimum of 15µl of nucleated blood

• For species with non-nucleated red blood cells (mammals), please provide at least 1200µl.

  • For smaller species: provide a minimum of 600µl of blood.

• Treat fresh blood with anticoagulants and then freeze

  • mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians: EDTA

  • fish: citrate dextrose (ACD)

• Store all samples at -20°C and ship with frozen ice packs or dry ice.

• If samples were stored using an alternative method or at a different temperature, please contact Andrew (andrewtully@g.ucla.edu) before sending.