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Biobank

What is the LIB Biobank?

The LIB Biobank is a specialised archive that offers standardised, documented and secure long-term storage of biodiversity samples for international research. Linked to the other LIB collections, samples of animal DNA, tissue, living cells, small organisms, and environmental DNA are stored here at temperatures between -40 and -190 °C and made available for research together with the associated discovery data. An external alarm system, self-sustaining cryogenic tanks (based on liquid nitrogen) and emergency plans ensure optimum storage conditions even in crisis situations.

We are committed to the development of biobanking standards (see ISBER and SYNTHESYS+) and are actively involved in shaping international networks, including the FrozenArk project and as chair of the Global GenomeBiodiversity Network (GGBN). The LIB Biobank is primarily dedicated to the research on, and conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. In line with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the commercial utilisation of samples is excluded.

Why is this important?

Our goal is to make unique genetic and genomic samples discoverable and accessible for current and future generations of scientists. This keeps previous research open to validation and offers a window into the past of ecosystems, species and populations. The Biobank enables follow-up studies without having to repeatedly take samples from wild populations. This is hugely important in the face of the biodiversity crisis, where populations are disappearing at an unprecedented rate.

The LIB biobank represents an important infrastructure also within the GBOL and CaBOL projects, which aim to create publicly accessible reference databases with species-specific DNA barcodes.

Which samples can be stored? How can I request samples?

The biobank accepts samples that have been preserved for molecular analysis (e.g. DNA or samples in 96% ethanol), which have been fully documented and are free from third-party claims. We also cryopreserve living cells and propagate them in our cell culture laboratory. Our viable cell and tissue collection, which includes numerous endangered species, is growing thanks to the FOGS, BGE and ZooRepository projects, as well as sample donations from individual zoos and project partners. Here you can find our detailed guidelines for sample storage.

To search the molecular samples (at the LIB and in the Global Genome Biodiversity Network) please visit the GGBN portalor theLIB collection portal. For material requests or sample depositions, please send us an .

Related collections

All collections

Contact person

Dr. Jonas Astrin

  • Head of Section
  • Biobank Curator

Phone: +49 228 9122 357
E-Mail: [email protected]

Projects

All projects

Publications

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Employees

All employees
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