How are Samples Analyzed?

Here's an overview of the various steps the CALeDNA team undergoes to extract DNA from the samples collected by our community scientists.

1. What happens to a sample sent to CALeDNA?

We handle all samples with care and intend to preserve them for 100 years so people can use them to track changes in the environment, particularly the living communities that have shed DNA into these tubes.

We handle all samples with care and intend to preserve them for 100 years so people can use them to track changes in the environment, particularly the living communities that have shed DNA into these tubes. Video made by Teia Schweizer 2018 for the University of California Conservation Genomics Consortium.

2. Starting a new project

CALeDNA processes samples from its museum of frozen samples, collected by community scientists, for research on California's biodiversity. Any researcher can request to use the samples.

This video shows how CALeDNA processes samples from its museum of frozen samples, collected by community scientists, for research on California's biodiversity. Any researcher can request to use the samples. Video made by Teia Schweizer 2018 for the University of California Conservation Genomics Consortium.

3. DNA Extraction for CALeDNA

We use DNA PowerSoil kits to extract DNA from soil and sediment.

This video shows how we use DNA PowerSoil kits to extract DNA from soil and sediment. Video made by Teia Schweizer 2018 for the University of California Conservation Genomics Consortium.

4. Overview of environmental DNA metabarcoding

CALeDNA uses DNA metabarcoding to identify organisms from environmental DNA in soil, sediment, sand, and even water samples.

This video shows an overview of how DNA metabarcoding works. This is the technique CALeDNA uses to determine the organisms the environmental DNA in soil, sediment, sand, or even water comes from. Video made by Teia Schweizer 2018 for the University of California Conservation Genomics Consortium.

5. Amplifying, cleaning, and pooling DNA metabarcoding libraries

To create DNA metabarcoding libraries, we use at least five primers to match different kinds of organisms (there's no one size for all). These amplify for commonly used barcoding loci. After making copies, we attach index tags so we can mix the samples and sequence them together, but tell which sequences belong to which samples later, based on the index tags.

This video explains the process making DNA metabarcoding libraries. We use at least five primers to match different kinds of organisms (there's no one size for all). These amplify for commonly used barcoding loci. After making copies, we attach index tags so we can mix the samples and sequence them together, but tell which sequences belong to which samples later, based on the index tags.