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Post by LighthouseLady92 on Jul 11, 2006 17:43:42 GMT -5
Well I'm off on probably another wild goose chase, starting Friday the 14th. I know how to cast prints and track through the wilds. My questions are, What if you find hair and or blood samples? I've heard to keep them on ice or even freeze them in ziploc baggies and to collect with gloves on. Does anyone have any more advice on the subject of I guess it would be classified as evidence collection? Any help would be appreciated!!!!!
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Post by vance winsor on Jul 11, 2006 18:44:31 GMT -5
Put the hair samples in small ziplock
bags and the same for blood samples, use
a q-tip if possible. As far as keeping
them cold, I have no idea. Do a search
on the net for those possible answers.
Yes, use gloves if possible to keep down
any contamanation (spelling). Your on
the right track with evidence
collecting. A search on the net should
help you. I use google to search the
net cause they have the best search
engine.
Til Later
Vance
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Post by Matt on May 19, 2007 11:46:49 GMT -5
Gloves are an absolute must to prevent oil from degrading the samples, RNase enzymes on the skin from destroying free nucleic acids in the form of possible mRNA, and to prevent your own epithelials from contaminating the samples. As for keeping hair on ice, its useless, in fact, it may hurt you. Hair is meant to be sustained at ambient temperatures any excess heating or cooling can cause breakage. Simply bagging these samples in sterile bags or tubes would be sufficient.
Blood samples, however, are tricky. Cotton swabbing samples is not a bad idea if the sample size is large enough to somewhat saturate the swab. If not, your sample may be lost in the cotton. I prefer carrying a sterile rubber policeman for small samples (yes that really is a lab tool name). This is typically some type of rod with a flat rubber sqeegee-like tip. You can you this to swish small samples into tiny vials or microfuge tubes (Fischer Science Supply and they are very cheap). Another method which i would consider utilizing is a sterile syringe (if you have access to these). If you can't get your hands on the real syringes, printer cartridge refill syringnes will suffice (unused and sterilized in ETHANOL, NOT METHANOL or ISOPROPYL). These will allow you to draw in small amounts of liquid which can be later withdrawn for analysis. Blood you'd want to keep cold. Best idea is to go to the drug store and grab ice packs which must be activated by cracking them before they cool. Make sure your samples are tightly sealed so nothing gets in or out.
All of the above mentioned materials are cheap and only add about a pound to your pack which is usually unnoticable. They also can serve other purposes, so you're not really wasting pack space either.
Another reco is to find out where you will send the samples before you even look for them. Genetic analysis is the most objective method we have today. Using PCR, RAPD-PCR, Microsatellite analysis, and VNTR can create somewhat of a unique genetic profile when utilized with either agarose gel electrphoresis or SDS-PAGE (sodiumdodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis). These techniques are often grouped under DNA Fingerprinting. Through the use of these tests, a researcher will be able to determine the phylogeny of the animal in question, compare it to other genetic profiles of similar species and even produce a genetic evolutionary tree. This is all accomplished by studying the genetic divergence of the animal which usually occurs through mutations over extremely long periods of times. This method completely outweighs the out-dated, but still utilized method of taxonomic classification utilized by people such as Darwin and Linne' which was phenetics, or the study or morphological similarities and differences between species.
Best of Luck,
Matt (the longwinded lab jockey)
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Post by vance winsor on May 19, 2007 16:36:41 GMT -5
Matt: thakyou for joining this forum. Read it as much as you can and post replys no matter how stupid it will sound. I like people to post as much as they can without putting someones idea down. We might not all agree that is ok but not to post your idea, i would not like that to happen. Im a member of 2 forums on bigfoot but only post to one. Check out my website at www.geocities.com/ozmtnmalltil later Vance |
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Post by LighthouseLady92 on May 21, 2007 7:32:02 GMT -5
Matt, Great to have you as a new member. Thanks for all the collection techniques....Great Info.....I have a lot of the things you mentioned. I got kit from the Galls catalog which is an entire evidence collection kit. Oh Vance yeah any DNA biologicals should be kept cold or frozen to preserve them.....Oh well gotta put my heathens on the bus....Till Later
Michelle
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