After potentially useful DNA extraction protocols are identifled from the preliminary experiments, random and focused sampling of PCR products could be conducted on a variety of sample types (from different taxa or flxed and preserved with different curatorial treatments) to identify the best protocol for each type. The issues to be addressed involve the recoverability of DNA, including sequences other than polypyrimidine tracts. Samples with euchromatic and heterochromatic DNA also could be considered.

In the long term, consideration of high-throughput processing of formalin-flxed samples for DNA barcoding and genomic studies would be appropriate, given the large number of samples in museum collections. Some individuals in institutions with collections are identifying specimens in their collections or taxa suitable for high-throughput processing, but a systematic and collaborative effort could facilitate and speed up the process.

Ideas and suggestions from the workshop participants could further the efflcient extraction of DNA from formalin-flxed samples, and that in turn could improve access to the sequence information of many rare or difflcult-to-collect species in natural history collections. Action by the Consortium for the Barcode of Life to follow up on the workshop participants’ ideas and suggestions could facilitate the effective recovery of sequence information from formalin-flxed biological samples.