GenBank and vouchers

[Jim Whitfield]

Hi TAXACOMers,
        I have to agree with Gary Gibson, and also with many of the
points made about the importance of vouchers .  As both a practicing
alpha-taxonomist (and in fact insect museum curator) and a molecular
systematist, I see these problems crop up continually.
        I think the problem is not with GenBank and other molecular
databases, however.  In my view, the responsibility lies (as in the
cases Gary is talking about) with the original authors who submit the
data not depositing vouchers at the appropriate institutions.    A
lot of molecular systematists are getting very conscientious about
this now that large-scale phylogenies with dense taxon sampling are
being attempted, but as we all know, many are not (as also with the
ecologists, etc. mentioned by Gary).
        I have argued in the literature (see refs. below if you are
interested)  that when molecular sequence data are published upon,
they should be deposited in GenBank, voucher specimens (e. g.
specimen remnants, preferably also with intact specimens from the
same collection series, etc.) with the GenBank numbers should be
deposited in a museum, and the publication should reference both.
That way, morphology- based taxonomy has the same direct access to
specimens used for molecular work as those used for original
descriptions, etc.    In other words, museum collections are an
appropriate place to have material with labels referencing GenBank
numbers.   To me, this is one of the nice ways in which museums can
help integrate molecular and morphological systematics at the
specimen level.
        I would be very interested in opinions about the appropriate
site for molecular vouchers, and whether museum curators want to take
this on.
                                        Cheers,  Jim Whitfield

(Those refs.)
I'd be happy to supply copies to whomever cannot get them easily...


Whitfield, J. B. & S. A. Cameron. 1994.  Museum policies concerning
specimen loans for molecular systematic research.  Molecular
Phylogenetics and Evolution 3: 268-270.
Cameron, S. A. & J. B. Whitfield. 1994.  Response to Dr. Hafner.
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 3: 271-272.
Whitfield, J. B.  1999.  Destructive sampling and information
management in molecular systematic research: an entomological
perspective.  Chapter 18, pp. 301-314 in: Byers, S. and D. Metsger,
eds., Managing the Modern Herbarium:  An Interdisciplinary
Approach.   Society for Preservation of Natural History Collections
and Royal Ontario Museum. 384 pp.

--
James B. Whitfield
Associate Professor
Department of Entomology
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
tel. 501-575-2482
FAX 501-575-2452
email jwhitfie at comp.uark.edu