The use of museum specimens with high-throughput DNA sequencers

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Genomics
• Museum studies

Background:

• Natural history collections are crucial for studying evolutionary processes and biodiversity.
• These collections offer opportunities for genetic research in taxonomy, conservation, systematics, and population biology.
• However, DNA degradation in preserved specimens has historically limited genetic analyses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the opportunities and drawbacks of using museum specimens for genetic research.
• To suggest best practices for incorporating archived biomaterials into genomic projects.
• To highlight recent technological advancements enabling genomic studies from historical samples.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on museum specimen genetic analysis.
• Discussion of high-throughput (HT) sequencing methodologies.
• Demonstration of restriction digests for DNA analysis from archived biomaterials.

Main Results:

• Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have overcome previous limitations of DNA fragmentation and damage.
• High-throughput sequencing methods, including whole genome shotgun sequencing and sequence capture, are now feasible with museum specimens.
• Restriction digests can also be effectively employed for genetic analysis of archived biomaterials.

Conclusions:

• Museum specimens are a valuable resource for genomic research, providing insights into past populations and evolutionary history.
• Technological advancements have made comprehensive genomic studies from historical samples a reality.
• Careful methodology is essential for successful genetic analyses of museum-collected specimens.