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DNA Bank Network

Four institutions with complementary collections and expertise form the DNA Bank Network. The Network reflects the decentralized distribution of natural history collections in Germany but aims at reducing high infrastructure expenses. The Network conforms to the prescribed structure of the GBIF progamme in Germany (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) network. All partner institutions are experienced in safeguarding natural history collections.

The Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (BGBM) is coordinating the network, here the databases and Web portals are being designed, and botanic DNA samples (plants, algae, protists) are being stored. The DNA bank of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology Munich (ZSM) focuses on safeguarding DNA of invertebrates (I), lower deuterostomes and fungi. The Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig Bonn (ZFMK) covers all additional invertebrate groups (invertebrates II) and vertebrates. The German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures Braunschweig (DSMZ) is specialized on DNA storage of micro-organisms, cell lines, and plant viruses.

The DNA Bank Network aims to establish a technically optimized DNA collection service facility for all biological research. DNA samples of on-site research and of selected natural history collections of the institutes will be incorporated. Also, the network promotes deposition of well documented DNA samples after project completion or data publication from scientists of other universities and institutions. In addition to DNA storage, scientists will be given the opportunity to store tissue material. In this way, material remaining from previous studies can be made available to other researchers.

 








 

DNA storage experiments

Knowledge about long term DNA storage is scarce. Therefore, further research is being conducted to optimize the process of DNA sample storage and access, which focuses on new and suitable protective substances, storage at higher temperatures, rehydration of lyophilized DNA, and the usage of special cryotubes.
Alternative methods of tube labelling are tested for identification, monitoring, and inventory; these methods include various applications of barcoding.

A workshop about institutional and technical strategies for long-term storage of nonhuman DNA samples has been held at the Systematics 2009 conference in Leiden, Netherlands on August 12th. The organizers thank all participants for their valuable contributions and the conference board for their help.
Download summary and abstracts.