Samples
In order to establish baseline data for quantifying allelic dropout and sequencing errors/false genotypes in degraded source material, total genomic DNA from 147 samples were extracted for a population genetic study on the Humboldt’s flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis,Yuan, 2020). From these samples, a subset was evaluated to test rates of dropout across replicated microsatellite PCRs. From the screened samples, three museum specimens which reliably amplified in PCR were deemed ‘high quality’ museum specimens, HQMS hereafter (as assessed from agarose gel visualization of PCR products). Additionally, three samples which repeatedly failed in PCR were deemed ‘low quality’ samples (LQMS hereafter). This differential selection was intentional to determine if allelic dropout rates varied based on reliability of PCR results. Additionally, one frozen tissue sourced specimen was included to observe if similar rates of allelic dropout would be detected from that sample. All samples’ details are provided in Table 1.