Automated and Manual DNA Extraction
Service Description
Our team has years of experience handling DNA extractions from a wide variety of samples types from humans, plants, and animals. Some of our favorite projects include animal saliva and bird feathers – just to name a few. Below you’ll find our most common extraction methods. If you don’t see your sample type listed, please contact us so we can learn more about your project and see where it fits into our extraction workflow*. We have extensive experience troubleshooting difficult to extract sample types and are excited to tackle your species of interest.
QIACube HT Extractions
© QIAGEN
We utilize the QIACube HT, Qiagen’s automated extraction robot, to perform high throughput extractions in a 96 well plate format for the sample types below.
*Some sample types are in development for the QCHT–such as saliva, but can be extracted with other methods until we fully offer the high-throughput service.
Please note: All human samples collected during and after November 2019 are considered COVID-19 pandemic specimens. If you would like DNA extracted from these types of samples please contact the facility to discuss the details of your project.
Access our Interactive Submission Guidelines and get the exact guidance you need to prepare, label, and deliver your samples.
If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please contact us at nextgen-seq@biotech.wisc.edu
Standard DNA Extraction Pricing
Effective 7/8/24
| * QC, normalization, and sample transfers are not included with any DNA extraction service. If your input isn't explicitly listed, please inquire. |
| ** For exact cost, please inquire for a quote. |
| Prices are subject to change without notice. Please email nextgen-seq@biotech.wisc.edu to request a quote. In the absence of a valid quote, prices from our current price books will be applied at the time of the service request. Prices may differ from those listed on this page. |
Plant DNA Extraction
What format do plant tissue samples need to be submitted in?
They must be in Qiagen collection tubes (Collection Microtubes (racked, 10 x 96) Cat. No. / ID: 19560). They must be individually capped. The lid provided with the tube rack will not sufficiently seal the tubes, so Qiagen tube caps (Collection Microtube Caps (120 x 8) Cat. No. / ID: 19566) must be used. We can provide the tubes and caps either in person or shipped at your expense.
Each rack must be labeled with the lab account name (PI or company name). Additionally, each rack must be labeled with a unique name/identifier. Please don’t name them “plate 1, plate 2, etc.” Please label the lid and rack, not just the lid top.
How much plant tissue should be submitted?
For normal extractions with typical leaf tissue, 1cm2 is sufficient for extraction. This corresponds to about 50mg of tissue. If you have unusual tissue, please consult with us and we can advise you on alterations to the submission. We find that an ordinary 0.25 inch office paper hole puncher will produce leaf fragments about 0.25-0.3 cm2 in diameter and that four of these are sufficient for extraction. For plant tissue that is difficult to measure in area, we recommend measuring out 50mg of tissue.
Less is more. Overloading with additional tissue does not yield proportional increases in the amount of DNA extracted but often causes a reduction of the DNA yield due to issues like inhibiting tissue disruption by clogging the sample tube, overwhelming buffers and enzymes, or soaking up the DNA-laden supernatant. Tissue mass is very rarely the limiting factor in extraction yield.
Below is an example of a sufficient amount of fresh leaf tissue.
Can I dry or further process my plant tissue prior to loading it into the Qiagen Collection Microtubes?
Generally we recommend avoiding severe tissue disruption such as grinding into a powder or finely mincing the tissue, but simple cutting into a few smaller pieces is not a problem. If possible, we prefer lyophilized tissues over fresh tissues, as mechanical tissue homogenization is improved, resulting in improved extraction efficiency
How should the plant tissue be loaded into the tubes and the tubes placed in the rack?
When loading the tissue, it is preferred that the tissue is placed further down in the well because tissue near the top can stick to the caps and cause problems when the wells are opened. However, please avoid severely compacting the tissue in the bottom of the tube, as it can inhibit our ability to disrupt the tissue. Very long tissue pieces that barely fit in the tubes, e.g., pine needles, should be broken into smaller pieces.
What should be done with unused wells?
Blank, empty, or control tubes with no tissue should be left in the rack and capped like they were a sample tube. Tubes and caps should be kept intact as a unit of 8 – no cutting or separating individual tubes. This helps us to keep things balanced during extraction.
Unless otherwise specified, all data and reagents distributed by the University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center DNA Sequencing Facility are intended for research purposes only. They are not intended nor certified for diagnostic or clinical use. Clinical services are provided through our collaboration with the UW Collaborative Genomics Core.