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 attach them during sample submission.

• 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 us 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 us 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 us 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 us before sending.