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.