Individual objects in the NHMO DNA Bank may or may not be connected to a voucher (including e-vouchers) in one of the traditional collections at NHMO or other museums, and are represented in the DNA Bank by one or more items (e.g. a tissue sample or a DNA extract). DNA available in the DNA Bank has been extracted either by previous or current research projects at the NHMO, or by previous loaners that have returned an aliquot of their extraction to the DNA Bank.
Genetic resources are constantly becoming more important for biological research, with a wide range of applications in basic as well as applied research and conservation, including DNA barcoding. Old samples from the traditional collections may be used for molecular analyses, but degraded DNA and suboptimal storage conditions often hampers such analyses. Fresh samples, stored in a DNA-friendly way, are much easier to use in molecular analyses, and provide DNA of a much better quality compared to old samples.
The DNA Bank contains samples from all biological research fields at the NHMO, with a special focus on those groups that can be found also in the traditional collections at the museum. Geographically the main focus is on the Norwegian, northern and arctic fauna and flora, but several parts of the collection also include considerable sample series from other parts of the world.
The DNA Bank is committed to the letter and spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the Nagoya Protocol, and operates in compliance with the CETAF and GGBN codes of conduct.