ARS | Publication request: SEM vouchers and genomic data from an individual specimen: maximizing the utility of delicate and rare specimens

Submitted to: Acarologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2010
Publication Date: December 22, 2010
Citation: Dowling, A.P., Bauchan, G.R., Beard, J.J., Ochoa, R. 2010. SEM vouchers and genomic data from an individual specimen: maximizing the utility of delicate and rare specimens. Acarologia. 50(4):479-485.

Interpretive Summary: Mites are small arthropods which include parasitic and plant-feeding species, many of which are of economic importance on food crops, timber, ornamental plants, cattle, domestic and wild animals, as well as predatory species that have been used in biological control programs. This paper addresses the use of low temperature scanning microscopy in combination with DNA analysis to better understand these minute arthropods. The technique allows researchers to accurately obtain morphological and molecular data from the same specimen.

Technical Abstract: Specimen vouchering is a critical aspect of systematics, especially in genetic studies where the identity of a DNA sample needs to be assured. It can be difficult to obtain a high quality voucher after DNA extraction when dealing with tiny and delicate invertebrates that often do not survive the extraction procedure intact. This paper discusses the use of a single specimen for both low temperature scanning electron microscopy and DNA extraction. This process allows full documentation of all external characteristics of an organism and ample whole genomic DNA extraction for DNA sequencing.