Determination of DNA content of whole fish

ABSTRACT:   The DNA content of whole fish from 31 different North Atlantic fish species was determined. Sample preparation was performed on board the fishery research vessel 'Walter Herwig III' directly after catch and sorting. Up to three homogenates were prepared of each 10 specimens per species by mincing the whole fish. The homogenates were heated to destroy nuclease activity, and then stored at frozen temperature until being analyzed in the laboratory. Measurement of DNA content was carried out using the DNA specific fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258 (Serva Biochemica, Heidelberg, Germany). Matrix effects as light scattering and quenching could be estimated by use of standard addition of calf thymus DNA. DNA contents were referred to dry weight of sample material, and ranged from 570 µg to 3500 µg/g dry weight of homogenate. The coefficient of variation did not exceed 25% of mean for one species; coefficient of variation for all investigated species did not exceed 30% of mean, which was 1020 µg/g dry weight.