LAUSR

Restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) methods are growing in popularity, yet require large starting amounts of high quality DNA. I examined the utility of scale clips, a minimally invasive method of tissue collection for live snakes, as a source of high quality DNA suitable for RADseq. I compared DNA extracted from muscular tissue obtained from roadkilled copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) and ventral scale clips obtained from live A. contortrix. Much less DNA was extracted from scale clips than from muscular tissue, yet molecular weight and number of sequence reads were not different. Amount of DNA extracted from scale clips was not affected by the size of the animal. My findings suggest that high quality DNA can likely be obtained from ventral scale clips for most species of snakes. The high molecular weight also allows the lower DNA yields accessible via scale clips to be amplified using whole genome amplification.