A technique for the rapid extraction of microalgal DNA from single live and preserved cells

Abstract

Molecular methods are increasingly being used in the study of harmful microalgae; however, DNA extraction techniques have imposed limitations on the species and questions studied, with research primarily restricted to cultured specimens. Here we describe a simple method that merges two existing techniques for DNA extraction from live and preserved single dinoflagellate cells. DNA was successfully isolated from live single cells of Gambierdiscus toxicus Adachi et Fukuyo, 1979 and cells preserved using formalin/methanol fixation. This method supplements existing techniques and expands the scope of genetics studies conducted on dinoflagellates to include routine molecular analysis of single cells isolated from field samples. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.