NucleoSpin eDNA Water

The NucleoSpin eDNA Water kit enables fast purification of environmental DNA (eDNA) from diverse water samples with reliable results and minimal risk of DNA contamination. eDNA is extracted in less than 70 minutes, avoiding long, over-night incubation steps typical of eDNA extraction workflows. NucleoSpin eDNA Water is compatible with a variety of filters and filtration systems. Furthermore, an alternative protocol for direct eDNA precipitation circumventing filtration is provided.

What is environmental DNA (eDNA)?

eDNA can be described as any DNA released from organisms into the environment (air, water, soil). With regard to water samples, eDNA can be derived from e.g. epithelial cells, excretions, decaying organisms or pieces of tissue, reproductive cells (e.g. sperms, spawn, pollen). Most eDNA is associated with particles, such as cells, organelles, or bound to grains of inorganic or organic material. For this reason, eDNA can be obtained from water samples by filtration.

Purification workflow

*Filtration device and NucleoSpin Filter/ syringe for recovery not included in the kit

The NucleoSpin eDNA Water workflow has been optimized for speed and simplicity without compromising quality of the purified DNA. Samples can be obtained by filtration with round filters - like MACHEREY-NAGELs 45 mm Glass Fiber Filters - or filter cartridges (SterivexTM). Alternatively, eDNA can be precipitated from < 40 mL of unfiltered water. The purification workflow takes less than 70 minutes. Full preparation time depends on the sampling and / or filtration setup.

eDNA isolation by filtration method with NucleoSpin® eDNA Water

The NucleoSpin eDNA Water kit is intended for the isolation of eDNA from milliliter to liter water samples collected from natural freshwater and marine environments. The following workflow video shows exemplary how to process water samples, filtered with Glass Fiber Filters, with our NucleoSpin eDNA Water kit.

Options for sample pre-processing

* Filtration devices and filters not included

** Requires additional buffer PREC

Things to consider for the isolation of eDNA from aquatic ecosystems - tips, tricks, and references

This part of the landing page aims to support all those seeking to isolate eDNA from aquatic ecosystems, e.g. by use of NucleoSpin eDNA Water kit or other methods. It gives tips and tricks to consider and an access to a selected number of references from a fast growing wealth of publications covering technical as well as application aspects of eDNA. A summary of all information in terms of sampling strategies, storage - transport - conservation, purification method, analysis and quantification of eDNA is described in our TechNote, please click here to read more.