Task Force Biobank Procedures

Program of Work

Improve biobank standard operating procedures and sample preservation by:

• Conducting and publishing results on targeted sample preservation studies
• Identifying and filling gaps in best practices related to the management of genomic samples

Current Activities

• Performing a long-term experiment on fixed animal tissue preservation; testing common preservatives across wider range of taxa
  • Currently testing Qiagen RNAlater, RNAlater surrogate, Qiagen AllProtect, ethanol, propylene glycol, DESS (DMSO/NaCl), and tissue lysis buffer
• Performing an experiment on stabilizers for RNA during shipment
• As part of SYNTHESYS+ Work Package 3, performing a landscape analysis of existing biobank standard operating procedures
• Serving on the EBP Scientific Subcommittee: Sample Collection and Processing.

Accomplishments

• Contributed to the ISBER, 2018, ISBER Best Practices - Recommendations for Biorepositories
• Reviewed the collection, processing, storage and transportation of animal and plant genetic resources for inclusion in ISO biobanking standard (ISO/AWI 20387).

Related Resources

• Bourque, D.A., Naaum, A.M., Distel, D.L. and Hanner, R.H. (2017) Whole Genome Amplification Provides Suitable Control DNA for Use in DNA Barcoding Applications. Biopreservation and Biobanking, 15, 277-279.
• Campbell, L.D., Astrin, J.J., De Souza, Y., Giri, J.G., A., P.A., Rawley-Payne, M., Rush, A., Sieffert, N. (eds.) (2018) ISBER Best Practices: Recommendations for Repositories - Guidance for the Collection, Handling, Storage, and Distribution of Biological and Environmental Specimens. ISBER.
• Mulcahy DG, Macdonald KS III, Brady SG, Meyer C, Barker KB, Coddington J. 2016. Greater than X kb: a quantitative assessment of preservation conditions on genomic DNA quality, and a proposed standard for genome-quality DNA. PeerJ 4:e2528 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2528
• Sharpe, A., Barrios, S., Gayer, S., Allan-Perkins, E., Stein, D., Appiah-Madson, H.J., Falco, R. and Distel, D.L. (2020) DESS deconstructed: Is EDTA solely responsible for protection of high molecular weight DNA in this common tissue preservative? PLOS ONE, 15, e0237356.
• Zimkus, Breda & Hassapakis, Craig & Houck, Marlys. (2018). Integrating current methods for the preservation of amphibian genetic resources and viable tissues to achieve best practices for species conservation. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. 12. 1-27
• Zimkus, B.M. and Ford, L.S. (2014) Best practices for genetic resources associated with natural history collections: Recommendations for practical implementation. Collection Forum, 28, 77-112.
• Zizka, V.M.A., Koschorreck, J. , Khan, J. and Astrin, J.J. (2022) Long-term archival of environmental samples empowers biodiversity monitoring and ecological research

Getting Involved

Email us at info@ggbn.org to:

• Join the Task Force
• Volunteer to lead an experiment

Current Members

• Jonas Astrin, Zoological Research Museum A. Koenig (2016-present), Chair
• Ken Hayes, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (2021-present), Co-Chair
• Katie Barker, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2016-present)
• Mike Bruford, Cardiff University (2017-2023)
• Marta Castelhano, Cornell University (2016-present)
• Jon Coddington, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2016-2023)
• Kelli DeLeon, Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum (2021-present)
• Dan Distel, Ocean Genome Legacy (2016-present)
• Gabi Droege, Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum Berlin-Dahlem (2016-present)
• Belén Escobari, Berlin Botanic Garden (2024-present)
• Chris Huddleston, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2021-present)
• Andrew Iloh, Biodiversity and Climate Research, Biotechnology Research Center (2016-present)
• Kim Labuschagne, National Zoological Gardens (2016-present)
• Jackie Mackenzie-Dodds, Natural History Museum London (2016-2023)
• Li Qiyuan, Beijing Genomics Institute (2016-present)
• Julie Strand, Randers Regnskov Tropical Zoo (2016-present)
• Jianbo Sun, China National Genebank (2021-present)
• Cynthia Wang-Claypool, Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University (2024-present)
• Breda Zimkus, Museum of Comparative Zoology Harvard University (2016-present)