PAPER: Extraction, storage, amplification and ...

Methods for the extraction, storage, amplification and sequencing of DNA from environmental samples

January 2018

Lear G, Dickie I, Banks J, Boyer S, Buckley HL, Buckley TR, Cruickshank R, Dopheide A, Handley KM, Hermans S, Kamke J, Lee CK, MacDiarmid R, Morales SE, Orlovich D, Smissen R, Wood J & Holdaway R. 2018. Methods for the extraction, storage, amplification and sequencing of DNA from environmental samples. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 42(1): 10-+.

ABSTRACT

Advances in the sequencing of DNA extracted from media such as soil and water offer huge opportunities for biodiversity monitoring and assessment, particularly where the collection or identification of whole organisms is impractical. However, there are myriad methods for the extraction, storage, amplification and sequencing of DNA from environmental samples. To help overcome potential biases that may impede the effective comparison of biodiversity data collected by different researchers, we propose a standardised set of procedures for use on different taxa and sample media, largely based on recent trends in their use.

KEYWORDS

biological heritage, biodiversity monitoring, community profiling, DNA primers, DNA sequencing, eDNA, environmental DNA, Illumina, metabarcoding, metagenomics, molecular ecology