Specimen collection is essential for modern science

TitleSpecimen collection is essential for modern science
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2023
AuthorsNachman, MW, Beckman, EJ, Bowie, RCK, Cicero, C, Conroy, CJ, Dudley, R, Hayes, TB, Koo, MS, Lacey, EA, Martin, CH, McGuire, JA, Patton, JL, Spencer, CL, Tarvin, RD, Wake, MH, Wang, IJ, Achmadi, A, Álvarez-Castañeda, STicul, Andersen, MJ, Arroyave, J, Austin, CC, F Barker, K, Barrow, LN, Barrowclough, GF, Bates, J, Bauer, AM, Bell, KC, Bell, RC, Bronson, AW, Brown, RM, Burbrink, FT, Burns, KJ, Cadena, CDaniel, Cannatella, DC, Castoe, TA, Chakrabarty, P, Colella, JP, Cook, JA, Cracraft, JL, Davis, DR, Rabosky, ARDavis, D’Elía, G, Dumbacher, JP, Dunnum, JL, Edwards, SV, Esselstyn, JA, Faivovich, J, Fjeldså, J, Flores-Villela, OA, Ford, K, Fuchs, J, Fujita, MK, Good, JM, Greenbaum, E, Greene, HW, Hackett, S, Hamidy, A, Hanken, J, Haryoko, T, Hawkins, MTR, Heaney, LR, Hillis, DM, Hollingsworth, BD, Hornsby, AD, Hosner, PA, Irham, M, Jansa, S, Jiménez, RAlicia, Joseph, L, Kirchman, JJ, LaDuc, TJ, Leaché, AD, Lessa, EP, López-Fernández, H, Mason, NA, McCormack, JE, McMahan, CD, Moyle, RG, Ojeda, RA, Olson, LE, Onn, CKin, Parenti, LR, Parra-Olea, G, Patterson, BD, Pauly, GB, Pavan, SE, A Peterson, T, Poe, S, Rabosky, DL, Raxworthy, CJ, Reddy, S, Rico-Guevara, A, Riyanto, A, Rocha, LA, Ron, SR, Rovito, SM, Rowe, KC, Rowley, J, Ruane, S, Salazar-Valenzuela, D, Shultz, AJ, Sidlauskas, B, Sikes, DS, Simmons, NB, Stiassny, MLJ, Streicher, JW, Stuart, BL, Summers, AP, Tavera, J, Teta, P, Thompson, CW, Timm, RM, Torres-Carvajal, O, Voelker, G, Voss, RS, Winker, K, Witt, C, Wommack, EA, Zink, RM
JournalPLOS Biology
Volume21
Issue11
Paginatione3002318
Date PublishedOct-11-2024
Abstract

In a recent Perspective, Byrne [1] emphasized that natural history museums “are essential hubs for research and education” but that their mission should be reimagined to focus on nonlethal collecting. We endorse many of the practices advocated by Byrne, including the storage of tissues, recordings, photos, and other data; embracing new technologies such as massively parallel DNA sequencing, μCT scanning, and stable isotope analysis; and large-scale digitization of collections and associated metadata. Indeed, many of these practices are widely used by museums today. We also welcome the call to provide stable financial support to maintain and expand the infrastructure of existing collections. However, we do not support the call to use new technologies “to replace the need for whole animal bodies.” Byrne’s position overstates the potential of new technologies to replace specimen-based research and fails to acknowledge the importance of whole-organism–based research in building the foundations of modern biology and in continuing to promote new discoveries.
URLhttps://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002318
DOI10.1371/journal.pbio.300231810.1371/journal.pbio.3002318.s001
Short TitlePLoS Biol