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Body bits: |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575  View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 17 May 2003 At the moment I am dissecting out several berus to provide tissue for DNA analysis for a colleague in Germany. He just wants heart or liver samples; if there is anyone who GENUINELY wants berus tissue samples then let me know. The snakes are - male from Bournemouth - male from Purbeck - female from Hindhead.
Tony Phelps |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090  View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 13 Jul 2003 Tony, I found this unfortunate individual on a private road on my way back from Hindhead this evening, there was some movement of the tail when found, though she was obviously fatally wounded and quite brain dead,
What's best to preserve her in thats generally available at the chemists, and who should I send the body bits to? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 For DNA analysis, the best method is to take small bits of tissue and chop them up a bit before placing in 70% - absolute alcohol (NOT industrial methylated spirits!!) in a small plastic tube (film canisters are OK for this sort of thing). For labelling, use pencil, so that your label does not get wiped out at the first leakage of alcohol! The body can be injected with 70-80% alcohol (or IMS) and stored in a jar full of the same, or it can be injected with 10% formalin (4% formaldehyde) for fixation, and then stored in a jar with 70-80% alcohol. Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 Many thanks Wolfgang, are there any specific tissues best preserved for DNA analysis? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Matt Harris Senior Member Joined: 03 Jun 2003 No. of posts: 196 View other posts by Matt Harris |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 I spoke to Rhys the other day and it sounds like he's still interested in receiving samples, though more especially from Wales. Snake Tissue Samples Wanted for Study Rhys Jones, based at Cardiff University, needs samples of snake tissue for a study of the genetics and distribution of adders Vipera berus and grass snakes Natrix natrix throughout Britain (and Europe). Rhys is looking for samples of, or whole, dead snakes or snake sloughs. He needs to know where the snake originated. If you have access to such tissues (e.g. preserved road kills, or collected sloughs) please contact: Rhys Jones, G10, BIOSI 1, Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 4BT, 029 20875776 (Lab), JonesR9@cf.ac.uk Gwent Amphibian and Reptile Group (GARG) |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 I've run into problems gaining a supply of absolute alcohol, as it appears that a license is required from customs and exercise before it can be purchased. My intention is to dissect her today, partly to see if there is anything reconisable in the guts, and partly as a learning experience for myself. Will the tissues survive freezing for approximately a month, as it would seem this is the time it will take to receive the supply of alcohol?? Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Wolfgang Wuster Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2003 No. of posts: 326 View other posts by Wolfgang Wuster |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 Yes, the tissue can survive freezing for a month. Of greater importance is getting the stuff into the freezer asap. DNA can be degraded pretyt quickly before freezing. Cheers, Wolfgang Wolfgang Wüster School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor http://sbsweb.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/ |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 Thanks again Wolfgang, is there any chance of genetic preservation in spirits sold for human consumption? Out of interest the dissection revealed a complete common or pygmy shrew (not sure which yet) in the stomach, and partially digested small mammal in guts, also good fat deposits. Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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Tony Phelps Forum Specialist Joined: 09 Mar 2003 No. of posts: 575 View other posts by Tony Phelps |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 Gemma. I am sending you a few cryo tubes containing pure ethanol, will take heart, and section of liver. You can send directly to Rhys or to me, but exact location map ref or GPS would be great. Suggest you fix remainder in formaldehyde (12hrs) then label and pop into 75% ethanol, you only need licence for pure stuff. Unless anyone else is looking for DNA, perhaps you could take a section of liver for Ulrich Joger he is looking for berus sample too, I can send on to him. will send you 6 tubes. Sh...t whats your address again, Cheers Tony Tony |
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GemmaJF Admin Group Joined: 25 Jan 2003 No. of posts: 2090 View other posts by GemmaJF |
Posted: 14 Jul 2003 Many thanks Tony, e-mailed my address to you, anyone know where I can order 75% ethanol and formaldehyde, I've searched the web all day Gemma Fairchild, Independent Ecological Consultant |
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