DNA from wood - A simple approach facing a challenging matrix - A preliminary study
Location
Brazil
Date of Publication
2020 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Environmental Security
Keywords
Illegal Logging, wood, plant DNA, extraction, robotic platform, forensic, magnetic DNA isolation technology, srhreports
Description
Plant DNA barcoding has proven to be a handy tool for identifying botanical species. However, extracting DNA from woody materials is often a challenging task. Forensic applications, therefore, must be able to overcome the technical difficulties of this nature. A simple and successful adaptation, through a widely used method in forensic laboratories, using chemistry based on magnetic DNA isolation technology and a robotic platform, is presented here. The model case was the application of this adapted DNA extraction method for the identification of Aspidosperma spp., a genus comprising several species in all biomes of Brazil, including Cerrado and Rain Forest. Such technology adaptation can aid in the identification of seized material and help in investigations involving illegal logging and deforestation, ultimately contributing to environmental protection.
DNA from wood - A simple approach facing a challenging matrix - A preliminary study
Brazil
Plant DNA barcoding has proven to be a handy tool for identifying botanical species. However, extracting DNA from woody materials is often a challenging task. Forensic applications, therefore, must be able to overcome the technical difficulties of this nature. A simple and successful adaptation, through a widely used method in forensic laboratories, using chemistry based on magnetic DNA isolation technology and a robotic platform, is presented here. The model case was the application of this adapted DNA extraction method for the identification of Aspidosperma spp., a genus comprising several species in all biomes of Brazil, including Cerrado and Rain Forest. Such technology adaptation can aid in the identification of seized material and help in investigations involving illegal logging and deforestation, ultimately contributing to environmental protection.
