BIOLOGICAL SPECIMEN BANKING IN ARCTIC RESEARCH - AN ALASKA PERSPECTIVE

The cryogenic archival of biological specimens for retrospective analy sis is of significant value for present and future research on populat ion genetics, pathology, systematics, toxicology and environmental mon itoring. This realization is emphasized by the increasing support of t his activity by various government agencies, institutions and internat ional groups. The international Arctic community is no exception. Cana da has been conducting such activities in association with environment al monitoring programs for many years. Similar efforts appear to be un derway in other polar nations. From the perspective of the United Stat es Arctic, the Alaska Marine Mammal Tissue Archival Project (AMMTAP) w as the earliest organized effort to develop an environmental specimen bank specifically designed for long-term archival of biological specim ens under cryogenic conditions. The AMMTAP emphasizes use of standardi zed rigorous sampling and archival protocols, procedures that minimize contamination of samples during collection and maintaining a detailed record of sample history. The development of this specimen bank, rece nt activities of this project and other cryogenic specimen banks being developed in Alaska are described.