Primary studyBiobanking & preservation
Investigating ancient human DNA preservation on cave walls and in rock art
Investigates ancient human DNA in cave-wall pigments and rock-art environments.
2026
Primary studyBiobanking & preservation
Exploring DNA degradation in situ and in museum storage through genomics and metagenomics
What this contributes
Compares DNA preservation in archaeological bones with different excavation and storage histories.
The boundary of the evidence
Not a universal shelf-life estimate for banked human samples.
Why it belongs here
A sample's value depends on collection, chain of custody, storage history and quality controls. Cryopreservation research ranges from cells and tissues to experimental organ preservation. Preserving a specimen, preserving its structure and restoring its function are distinct outcomes.
Keep reading
GuidanceBiobanking & preservation
Best Practices for Biospecimen Resources - NCI
NCI's fourth-edition practices cover biospecimen operations, quality and governance.
2026
GuidanceBiobanking & preservation
Technical and Operational Best Practices - NCI
Addresses sample collection, storage, retrieval, quality controls and operations.
2026