Abstract
Herbarium specimens are an important source of DNA for plant research but current sampling methods require the removal of material for DNA extraction. This is undesirable for irreplaceable specimens such as rare species or type material. Here I present the first non-destructive sampling method for extracting DNA from herbarium specimens. DNA was successfully retrieved from robust leaves and/or stems of herbarium specimens up to 73 years old.
Highlights
Museum collections, including herbarium specimens, are becoming an increasingly popular source of DNA [1]
Current DNA extraction methods involve destroying part of the specimen. Such destructive sampling can limit the future use of a specimen by both geneticists and other researchers
This appears to be the first demonstration of a non-destructive method for the extraction of DNA from herbarium specimens
Summary
Museum collections, including herbarium specimens, are becoming an increasingly popular source of DNA [1]. Current DNA extraction methods involve destroying part of the specimen (e.g., removal of a leaf and grinding it up). Such destructive sampling can limit the future use of a specimen by both geneticists and other researchers. Curators, who are tasked with caring for herbarium collections, need to balance specimen preservation with their use for research. To this end DNA extraction methods that minimize damage to specimens are desirable
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