[Nhcoll-l] Ethanol concentration for tissue samples

[Bentley, Andrew Charles]

Sarah

Although I don't have any data or publications to back it up I think you are correct.  There is very little difference between 95% and 100% ethanol and the minimal water content in 95% would have little to no effect on DNA preservation.  That being said, both of these will degrade DNA over time and as such we only use this as a transportation fluid when shipping tissues or for field collection where liquid nitrogen is out of the question.  All tissues that come into our collection have all fluids drained off before they are placed in our liquid nitrogen dewars to ensure that no further degradation of DNA occurs due to them still being in the fluid.  It also ensures that the piece of tissue is accessible and you do not have to hunt through frozen to half frozen fluid to find it in the tube.

I have attached publications that talk about extraction of DNA from 95% ethanol preserved specimens.

Hope that helps

Andy

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Andy Bentley
Ichthyology Collection Manager
University of Kansas
Biodiversity Institute
Dyche Hall
1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
USA

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From: nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu [mailto:nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu] On Behalf Of Sarah K. Huber
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2016 11:34 AM
To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
Cc: Eric Hilton <ehilton at vims.edu>
Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Ethanol concentration for tissue samples


I recently had a graduate student request 100% absolute ethanol to use for preserving tissue samples (fish muscle and/or fins). We routinely use 95% ethanol (and all tissue samples are then stored in a -80 freezer); however, the student is adamant that 100% is the only preservative that is acceptable for tissue preservation. Does anyone have an opinion on 95% versus 100% ethanol for tissue preservation? There is a very steep price difference between the two fluids, and my understanding is that 95% ethanol preserves tissues just as well as 100%.



Thanks,

Sarah

Sarah K. Huber, Ph.D.
Curatorial Associate, VIMS Nunnally Ichthyology Collection
Office 804.684.7104 | Collection 804.684.7285
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