Table 2.

Distinctive characteristics of the application, procedures, and materials recommended in the five DNA extraction kits herein selected. gDNA – genomic DNA; preps – preparations or samples; NGS – Next Generation Sequencing.

Characteristics	DNA extraction kits
	E.Z.N.A.	FastDNA	DNeasy	PowerFecal	Zymo
Sample type or matrix	Soil	Plants, animal tissues, yeast, bacteria, algae, fungi, others	Soil	Stool, gut, biosolids	Bacteria, fungi, water, protozoans, algae, virus, faeces, soil, biofilms
Source of the isolated gDNA	Bacteria, fungi, yeast, algae	Plants, animals, bacteria, yeast, algae, fungi	Bacteria, fungi	Bacteria, fungi	Bacteria, fungi, protozoans, algae
gDNA isolation from Gram-positive?	Yes	No	No	No	No
Downstream application	PCR, Southern blot, NGS	PCR and other applications	PCR, NGS, enzymatic digestion assays	PCR, NGS, enzymatic digestion assays	qPCR, 16S rRNA & shotgun sequencing
Cell lysis	Mechanical & Chemical	Mechanical & Chemical	Mechanical & Chemical	Mechanical & Chemical	Mechanical & Chemical
Bead material and size	Glass, 0.1∼0.2 mm	Garnet (flakes), 0.56-0.7 mm	Ceramic, 0.1-0.5 mm	Dry Garnet, 0.7 mm	BashingBeads of chemically-inert material, 0.1-0.5 mm
Cell lysis methods	Vortex 5’; incubation at 70 °C, 10’	Vortex for 40 s	Vortex (Genie® 2) 10’	Heating at 65 °C 10’; vortex (Genie® 2) 10’	Vortex 10’
Recommended mass (mg)	100-200	100-200	≤ 250	≤ 250	≤ 250
Approximate cost	193€ / 50 preps	363€ /100 preps	420€ / 50 preps	417€ / 50 preps	435€ / 50 preps