8 replies to this topic

[Ferox_Formicae]

Hello all! I'm working on compiling a list of all of the ant species of the state of South Carolina, and I need your help. I'm working on a research paper with the current running title of "Updated List of the Ant Species of South Carolina", and I need samples from throughout the entire state, and I cannot do that on my own. This project will be running for several years, and when it is finished, I hope to have a complete list of all of the species found in the state, as South Carolina is a poorly studied state in the Myrmecological community. If any of you South Carolinian's are interested in helping me with this major project, there are a few things you can do. First is to collect samples of ants from your area and preserve them in 70% isopropanol alcohol, which can be bought at drug stores and other stores for pretty cheap. Make notes of where you collected the specimens and on what date, as this is valuable information which must be preserved along with the ants. Place specimens into a vial or test tube of sorts and tape the label to the container. Be sure not to mix ants that were collected from different areas. Ants can be mailed to me. PM me if you would like to contribute to this, and also let me know if you would like your name featured in the published paper. Any contributions would be greatly appreciated!

[gcsnelling]

Isopropyl alcohol is not the best choice to use, in these days of DNA one should use an alcohol which will preserve the DNA in the event future researchers wish to make use of it. 100 percent ethanol is by far the better choice.

[Ferox_Formicae]

Isopropyl alcohol is not the best choice to use, in these days of DNA one should use an alcohol which will preserve the DNA in the event future researchers wish to make use of it. 100 percent ethanol is by far the better choice.

Okay, thank you for the information. I will certainly keep this in mind.

[Ferox_Formicae]

A video has been posted on the topic. Check it out!

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=WOup7DsEMR8

[Martialis]

Isopropyl alcohol is not the best choice to use, in these days of DNA one should use an alcohol which will preserve the DNA in the event future researchers wish to make use of it. 100 percent ethanol is by far the better choice.

Why doesn’t isopropyl preserve DNA?

[gcsnelling]

That would be a question for those deeper in the know than I am, however I have been told time and again that rubbing alcohol is no good for DNA preservation.

[gcsnelling]

In doing some additional research I been advised by one of those in the know that Isopropyl and ethanol are both good DNA preservers provided the concentration is high enough, the closer to 100% the better, apparently it is the higher water concentration in low grade alcohols which can the cause degradation of the DNA.

Edited by gcsnelling, September 20 2019 - 2:20 AM.

[Martialis]

In doing some additional research I been advised by one of those in the know that Isopropyl and ethanol are both good DNA preservers provided the concentration is high enough, the closer to 100% the better, apparently it is the higher water concentration in low grade alcohols which can the degradation of the DNA.

 

That makes sense. Now I;m probably going to go down a rabbit hole of my own exploring why water impacts DNA degradation.

 

Thanks for the information!

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Good luck! I wish someone would do this for Wisconsin... Maybe I can.