I have used Isopropylene (also called Rubbing Alcohol) in the past, where nothing else was available; it preserves tissue reasonably well, but is not good for DNA preservation. It stinks and is poisonous, too.

Regards,

PC.

Paul Callomon
Collections Manager
Malacology, Invertebrate Paleontology and General Invertebrates
Department of Malacology
Academy of Natural Sciences
1900 Parkway, Philadelphia PA 19103-1195, USA
Tel 215-405-5096
Fax 215-299-1170
Secretary, American Malacological Society
On the web at http://erato.acnatsci.org/ams/


>>> [log in to unmask] 06/30/05 06:21PM >>>
What are the comparative advantages/disadvantages of isopropyl alcohol?
Similar enough to ethanol? That's what's most readily available and
cheapest when I travel.

(Personally, I'm not trying to preserve soft parts, just trying to slow
down rot until I can get it home and work on them with a water pic.)

David Kirsh
Durham, NC

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