I have a large number of old fire ant collections mostly from the 1980s, but some go back to the 1950s. I am trying to determine the likely quality of the DNA in these samples. Does anyone have a paper or two they could recommend which reports on the quality of DNA in old alcohol samples? Specifically I am interested in 1) the type of alcohol, 2) the percentage of alcohol, 3) the age of the specimens, and 4) other factors that might be important. Also, I would like to know about samples that have dried out. My guess is that DNA quality will be very bad, but I would like to see some data on the subject before I decide how much effort to put into conserving the collections. Thanks, Sanford ======================================================= Sanford D. Porter, PhD Research Entomologist ======================================================== USDA-ARS, CMAVE 1600 SW 23rd Drive Gainesville, FL 32608 USA Office: 352 374-5914 Cell Phone: 352 246-8336 Unit Office: 352 374-5903 FAX: 352 374-5818 E-mail: [log in to unmask] Personal Webpage and PDF Publications: http://www.ars.usda.gov/saa/cmave/ifahi/sdporter Unit Publications: www.ars.usda.gov/saa/cmave/ifahi/publications<http://www.ars.usda.gov/saa/cmave/ifahi/publications> --------------------------------------------------------- For information about "FORMIS: a master bibliography of ant literature" (~50,000 citations) go to: http://www.ars.usda.gov/saa/cmave/ifahi/formis ======================================================== This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.