PRESERVATION OF FORAMINIFERA FOR DNA EXTRACTION AND PCR AMPLIFICATION

We have examined the effect of storing foraminifera under various cond itions (air-drying, freezing, chemical fixation) on the polymerase cha in reaction (PCR) amplification of foraminiferal DNA. The best results were obtained with frozen and air-dried samples. PCR amplification wa s successful with air-dried samples stored at room temperature for up to 11 weeks, Positive results were also obtained with foraminifera sto red for 2 and 3 years, although the size of amplification products was limited to 500 bp. The size of DNA fragments amplified from ethanol a nd formaldehyde fixed samples was also limited. Successful amplificati on of DNA was achieved from dried specimens following their examinatio n by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which opens new perspectives for comparative studies of molecular and morphologic variations in for aminifera.