Can you store DNA

[Cats]

This may seem a bit strange but I was wondering if there is any way to store DNA. At this time my mother's DNA can not trace her father's family back to Lithuania, Since she is in her 80s and not in great health, I was wondering if we could swab her and store it for future use? My brother has done the combination test and we are awaiting the results but I don't think his DNA could ever be used to trace my mother's father or could it?

[vineviz]

Family Tree DNA will store samples used in their tests for 25 years, so ordering a basic mtDNA test for your mother would accomplish your goal.

There are also products available that will allow you to collect a sample for storage without any testing. These are cheaper, but are risky because without a test you cannot be certain that you've collected a viable DNA sample.

And the same advice you would follow when backing up computer files applies here: for true safety, store multiple samples in different places (i.e. with differnt labs).

[Arch Yeomans]

Added question to the question

I wonder if it would be possible to retain some teeth or even hair, and still be able to collect DNA from the stored teeth and/or hair. I would think it would be possible since Cheddar Man being some 9,000 years old they were able to extract mtDNA from him.

Also with the Amesbury Archer they were able to read isotopic levels in the teeth to determine possible region of upbringing. Something about by the time we reach age 10 or 11, the isotopes lock into the teeth and the levels vary with a "signature" that can help determine region of origin.

[vineviz]

I wonder if it would be possible to retain some teeth or even hair, and still be able to collect DNA from the stored teeth and/or hair. I would think it would be possible since Cheddar Man being some 9,000 years old they were able to extract mtDNA from him.

mtDNA can be extracted from old samples because there is a lot of it old bones. Extracting y-DNA from bone, hair, and teeth samples after a long period of time should not be counted on, in my opinion. There is no harm to storing such samples, of course, and technology will undoubetly advance over time.

But if you are concerned enough to be asking about it, you should probably come up with a better plan.

[tomcat]

This may seem a bit strange but I was wondering if there is any way to store DNA. At this time my mother's DNA can not trace her father's family back to Lithuania, Since she is in her 80s and not in great health, I was wondering if we could swab her and store it for future use? My brother has done the combination test and we are awaiting the results but I don't think his DNA could ever be used to trace my mother's father or could it?

Your brother's test will show your father's y-DNA haplogroup and your mother's mt-DNA haplogroup, only. The test will disclose nothing about your mother's father.

Why not ask your mother's physician about DNA sampling and testing? I wonder if he or she might not be able to arrange a test or, at least, the storage of a robust sample.

[Arch Yeomans]

alternate plan

mtDNA can be extracted from old samples because there is a lot of it old bones. Extracting y-DNA from bone, hair, and teeth samples after a long period of time should not be counted on, in my opinion. There is no harm to storing such samples, of course, and technology will undoubetly advance over time.

But if you are concerned enough to be asking about it, you should probably come up with a better plan.

Maybe amputation and a deep freezer in the garage? I don't know of any alternative plans that would work. What about the backup plan? What if the lab closes down and all the genetic material stored there gets thrown away. What of fire? Earthquake, floods, and other natural catastrophes.

I don't have an answer just numerous solutions that may or may not cause further probs.

Maybe buying a piece of Greenland real estate and burying the body there would help preserve the DNA. Those darn glacial/ice movements though, or what if a meteorite hits the burial site. What about global warming?

Dang it!! There is no workable indefinite long lasting DNA storage solution. It won't work too many things can go wrong. I'd say, get the blood or scraping anyway you can. Yank some hair out or follow the person around and collect fallen hair, toenail clippings, boogers, I don't know. anything that can be labeled as a biohazard would do and just have it tested and recorded.

I hope this helps. LOL.