SamplEase and CDROM Archive: Windows to Study the Dromedary Camelus dromedarius (Artiodactyla: Camelidae) and Related Camelids

Establishing an easily accessible electronic database is a time consuming endeavor faced by researchers from most scientific disciplines (particularly in disciplines that rely on the analysis of large datasets). We have developed SamplEase - an iOS application to ease the process of collecting samples in a fieldwork setting. This application facilitates the acquisition of basic data for each specimen—including photographs, GIS information, and labels. Although SamplEase was developed with camelids in mind, it can be used with any taxonomic group, and can be of great utility to researchers of various fields (particularly ecologists, geneticists, and animal breeders). One of the main goals of developing this application is to ease the process of establishing global collaborations through the process of sharing samples and associated data. We are currently in the initial stages of using SampleEase and Cdrom (an accompanying archive of camel samples) to establish a regional database that surveys the molecular and morphological variation. With each camel sample stored in Cdrom, we include all available information about the breed, pedigree, external characteristics, and medical history. We opted to use tail hair follicles as a source of DNA due to (1) its ease of collection and storage, (2) the willingness of breeders to provide such samples, and (3) the fact that it provides sufficient quality and quantity of DNA to perform molecular analyses. Our choice of hair follicles as the main DNA source for the Cdrom archive was determined empirically, via comparison with DNA samples obtained from saliva and blood.