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Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. We especially want to be able try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible?

Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions":

• Could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?
• Could ethanol precipitation of DNA be used on the sample contemporaneously, and that precipitate instead be stored safely for 70+ years?

Maybe these other questions apply?

• DIY extraction and long term storage of human DNA sample?
• How realistic is to use DNA for long term storage?
• Isopropanol precipitation of DNA - duration and magnitude of cold storage

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)

Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able to sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. Furthermore, we especially want to be able to try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible?

Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions":

• Could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?
• Could ethanol precipitation of DNA be used on the sample contemporaneously, and that precipitate instead be stored safely for 70+ years?

Maybe these other questions apply?

• DIY extraction and long term storage of human DNA sample?
• How realistic is to use DNA for long term storage?
• Isopropanol precipitation of DNA - duration and magnitude of cold storage

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)

Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. We especially want to be able try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible?

Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions":

• Could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?
• Could ethanol precipitation of DNA be used on the sample contemporaneously, and that precipitate instead be stored safely for 70+ years?

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)

Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. We especially want to be able try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible?

Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions":

• Could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?
• Could ethanol precipitation of DNA be used on the sample contemporaneously, and that precipitate instead be stored safely for 70+ years?

Maybe these other questions apply?

• DIY extraction and long term storage of human DNA sample?
• How realistic is to use DNA for long term storage?
• Isopropanol precipitation of DNA - duration and magnitude of cold storage

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)

Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. We especially want to be able try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible? Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions": could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)

Imagine a person in the early half of the 20th century (1900 to 1950) took some kind of sample(s) from a living human body using any technology of the era. They then stored it using any technology available, but could not use prolonged (70+ years) refrigeration.

We want to be able to do useful analysis of that sample in the year 2024. We particularly might want to be able sequence mtDNA and nucleus DNA, look at telomeres and methylation. We especially want to be able try to determine the age of the individual, and even better, from what approximate generation they were (i.e. plus/minus a hundred years).

Is such sample storage even possible?

Using my "just enough knowledge to ask stupid questions":

• Could a sample be preserved in formalin and then immersed in alcohol, all in an air-free sealed container, and preserve the needed DNA strands and/or other biochemistry?
• Could ethanol precipitation of DNA be used on the sample contemporaneously, and that precipitate instead be stored safely for 70+ years?

(I'm an old hand at Stack Overflow / Stack Exchange sites, but this is my first post to Biology. Gentle feedback appreciated.)