Non-destructive DNA extraction for recovering mitochondrial genomes from museum grasshopper specimens.

ABSTRACT: Museum collections of grasshoppers contain valuable genetic data for evolutionary, ecological, and systematic studies, but destructive sampling and complex molecular techniques often limit their use. This study presents a simple, non-destructive DNA extraction protocol designed for dried grasshopper specimens, effectively balancing DNA yield with morphological preservation. We tested this method on specimens aged 6-43 years, exploring various lysis conditions to optimize DNA recovery while maintaining specimen integrity. The protocol successfully extracted sufficient DNA to assemble mitochondrial genomes for most samples using cost-effective low-coverage shotgun sequencing. DNA from younger specimens produced the best results, while older samples (over 40 years) showed some challenges, tho

SUBMITTER: Tang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12863550 | biostudies-literature | 2026

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature