Biological examination of plant specimens considers the origin and features of the submitted material. An individual fragment, seed or wood particle may require different methods and comparison data.
Subject of examination
- Plant fragments, seeds and wood particles
- Mixtures and inclusions of plant origin
- Comparison materials with established provenance
Sample questions for the expert
- Does the sample contain objects of plant origin?
- What features and taxonomic classification can be established from the materials?
- Are the submitted objects comparable in terms of the features identified?
- What limitations arise from treatment, grinding or the state of preservation?
The final questions are formulated according to the objects and circumstances of the particular task.
What to prepare
- A description of provenance and conditions of discovery
- Separately packaged samples and available photographs
- Information about treatment, storage and possible contamination
- Questions and comparison materials
How the examination is conducted
The preservation and sufficiency of features are assessed first. The need for microscopy, comparison and involvement of a specialist in the relevant field is determined according to the task; the methods used are stated in the examination.
Scope and limitations
An ordinary biological examination does not imply DNA identification. Questions of human health, veterinary matters, sanitary compliance and the object's legal status require a separate assessment.
What the deliverable records
The result describes the features identified, the supported level of identification and limitations associated with the sample's quality.
Cost and terms
from RUB 55,000. The exact price depends on the object, samples, questions and laboratory work.
How plant fragments in a mixture are examined
One bag may contain whole seeds, small wood particles, fibres and impurities. To provide a meaningful answer, it is important not to group them under a single name in advance. Separate groups of visible objects, their condition and their position on the substrate are described first; the features that can be examined and compared are then determined.
Information on the packaging should be retained as source information. A label stating «wood of a particular species» or «seeds of a single crop» is not yet an examination result. The question can be framed as follows: which groups of plant objects have been found, and which features support the identification? If a heterogeneous mass is being considered, the portion examined and the method of selecting it are stated separately.
Which differences matter
- A whole object or fragment, a preserved surface or material after grinding.
- Natural condition, drying, colouring, heating or other known treatment.
- The presence of particles on the item's surface and in its recesses, where relevant to the task.
- Isolated inclusions or recurring groups in the different packages submitted.
The results may establish classification in a broader group without confident identification of the species. This is a meaningful answer when the preserved features are insufficient for a narrower classification. Failure to detect an impurity in the examined portion should not automatically become a statement about the entire batch. Samples with known provenance are useful for comparison, together with an explanation of why they are relevant to the hypothesis being tested.