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Updated: Jul 10, 2025
08:01
Biobank for Translational Medicine: Standard Operating Procedures for Optimal Sample Management
Published on: November 30, 2022
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Response to "Specimen collection is essential for modern science"
1Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
Plos Biology
|November 22, 2023
Summary
Natural history museums preserve crucial biological specimens and data. This discussion explores the ethics of animal specimen collection and its future necessity.
Area of Science:
- Biodiversity Science
- Museum Studies
- Scientific Ethics
Background:
- Natural history museums serve as essential archives of biological specimens and associated data.
- These collections are fundamental for understanding the natural world and its changes over time.
- A recent formal comment questioned the future necessity of whole animal specimen collection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To respond to a formal comment regarding the cessation of whole animal specimen collection.
- To foster open dialogue on the ethical considerations surrounding specimen collection practices.
- To evaluate the ongoing relevance and indispensability of natural history collections.
Main Methods:
- This study is a formal reply to a peer-reviewed comment.
- It involves critical analysis of existing literature and ethical frameworks.
- It synthesizes arguments regarding the value of physical specimens in research.
Main Results:
- The necessity of whole animal specimen collection remains a pertinent topic in scientific discourse.
- Specimens are irreplaceable for certain types of scientific inquiry and validation.
- Digital data, while valuable, cannot fully substitute for physical specimens in all research contexts.
Conclusions:
- Complete cessation of whole animal specimen collection is not currently feasible or advisable for natural history museums.
- Continued ethical deliberation and transparent practices are essential for specimen collection.
- Balancing technological advancements with the enduring value of physical collections is critical for future biodiversity research.
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