Evaluation of DNA degradation and establishment of a degradation analysis model for Lepidoptera specimens
Yao Xu,
XueYu Ren,
HongBin Wang,
Mei Wang,
GuoHong Li
Affiliations
Yao Xu
1Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of China State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment & Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 1 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
XueYu Ren
1Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of China State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment & Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 1 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
HongBin Wang
1Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of China State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment & Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 1 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
Mei Wang
1Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of China State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment & Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 1 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
GuoHong Li
1Key Laboratory of Forest Protection of China State Forestry Administration, Research Institute of Forest Ecology, Environment & Protection, Chinese Academy of Forestry, No. 1 Dongxiaofu, Haidian District, Beijing 100091, China
Millions of museum specimens are integral to biodiversity studies; however, DNA degradation may limit the ability to obtain DNA sequences. In this study, a degradation analysis model for Lepidoptera specimens was established. Based on this model, we revealed the characteristics of DNA fragment distribution caused by external DNA damage factors during specimen preservation. We found that the degree of DNA degradation increased over time; DNA degradation of spread and dried adult specimens was significantly higher than that in the folded and formalin-fixed larval specimens. However, the effects of folding wings on DNA degradation and the effects of the preservation method/stage (formalin-fixed larval vs air-dried adult specimens) were different for different species.
