Brief Communications:Effect of Storage Time and Temperature on DNA Extracted from Whole Blood Samples

Document Type

Brief Communication

Authors

Bradford Towne, Washington University School of Medicine; Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, Texas
Eric J. Devor, Washington University School of Medicine

Abstract

The development of recombinant DNA technology has made it possible to examine heritable variation directly at the DNA sequence level. However, incorporating these techniques and methods in anthropologic field studies still presents several logistic problems and concerns, starting with the possible negative effects of storage and transport on the requisite blood samples. In this regard, though, the successful extraction and analysis of DNA from tissues thousands of years old is encouraging and suggests that such problems may be overcome (Paabo 1985; Paabo et al. 1988). Nonetheless, more data on the quality and quantity of DNA extracted from whole blood samples obtained from living individuals and handled under field conditions are needed.

Here we report the findings of an initial experiment designed to simulate best, worst, and indifferent treatment of blood samples. High-molecular-weight genomic DNA was extracted from the samples following storage, its quantity measured, and its quality assessed by electrophoresis and hybridization of restriction fragments.

Recommended Citation

Towne, Bradford and Devor, Eric J. (1990) "Brief Communications:Effect of Storage Time and Temperature on DNA Extracted from Whole Blood Samples," Human Biology: Vol. 62: Iss. 2, Article 10.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol62/iss2/10