In 2021 RBGE created a small suite of labs specifically for the extraction of DNA from historic herbarium specimens. These labs are located away from the other molecular labs and are run using clean laboratory techniques and extensive cleaning routines, to eliminate as much rogue DNA as possible.
These labs are used for samples that are expected to yield only trace amounts of DNA and which can be challenging to sequence, for example, older herbarium specimens that typically have highly degraded DNA. Using extraction protocols developed for ancient/historic collections, we have successfully extracted usable DNA from as little as 1 mg of leaf sample. Libraries have been prepared from this DNA and successfully sequenced.
We are currently undertaking further protocol development to maximise the amount and quality of DNA that we can extract from herbarium samples.
We also utilise these lab spaces for some eDNA work where we expect to be recovering trace quantities of DNA, and for consultancy projects where clean-room conditions are required in order to minimise risks of sample contamination.