A matrix for substantially dry storage of a biological sample, comprising: (a) a borate composition which comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boric acid, boric anhydride, dihydrogen borate, hydrogen borate, diborate, triborate, tetraborate, metaborate, hydroxoborate (borax), borate salt, boric acid-glycerol and boric-acid-1,3 propanediol; (b) at least one stabilizer that is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a compound of formula II: wherein R 1 is CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3, and wherein when X is CH, Y is H or OH, and when X is CH 2 -CH, Y is H; and (ii) a compound of formula IV: wherein R 1 is selected from aryl, arylaklyl, -H, -CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, wherein X is selected from -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CHOH, -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 and -CH 2 CHOHCHOHCH 2 -, wherein Y is selected from COO - and SO 3 -, and wherein Z is selected from -CH 2 -, -CHOH-, O and S; wherein the borate composition and the stabilizer are present at a molar ratio that is selected from a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 1:10, a molar ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5, and a molar ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20, wherein the matrix dissolves or dissociates in a biocompatible solvent that allows recovery of the dried biological sample, and wherein the matrix is capable of preventing degradation of an isolated DNA fragment of at least 10 kilobases during substantially dry storage of the DNA fragment in the matrix at 85°C for a time period of at least two weeks. (a) a borate composition which comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of boric acid, boric anhydride, dihydrogen borate, hydrogen borate, diborate, triborate, tetraborate, metaborate, hydroxoborate (borax), borate salt, boric acid-glycerol and boric-acid-1,3 propanediol; (b) at least one stabilizer that is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a compound of formula II: wherein R 1 is CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3, and wherein when X is CH, Y is H or OH, and when X is CH 2 -CH, Y is H; and (ii) a compound of formula IV: wherein R 1 is selected from aryl, arylaklyl, -H, -CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, wherein X is selected from -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CHOH, -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 and -CH 2 CHOHCHOHCH 2 -, wherein Y is selected from COO - and SO 3 -, and wherein Z is selected from -CH 2 -, -CHOH-, O and S; wherein the borate composition and the stabilizer are present at a molar ratio that is selected from a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 1:10, a molar ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5, and a molar ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20, wherein the matrix dissolves or dissociates in a biocompatible solvent that allows recovery of the dried biological sample, and wherein the matrix is capable of preventing degradation of an isolated DNA fragment of at least 10 kilobases during substantially dry storage of the DNA fragment in the matrix at 85°C for a time period of at least two weeks. (i) a compound of formula II: wherein R 1 is CH 3 or CH 2 CH 3, and wherein when X is CH, Y is H or OH, and when X is CH 2 -CH, Y is H; and (ii) a compound of formula IV: wherein R 1 is selected from aryl, arylaklyl, -H, -CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, wherein X is selected from -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CHOH, -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 and -CH 2 CHOHCHOHCH 2 -, wherein Y is selected from COO - and SO 3 -, and wherein Z is selected from -CH 2 -, -CHOH-, O and S; wherein the borate composition and the stabilizer are present at a molar ratio that is selected from a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 1:10, a molar ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5, and a molar ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20, wherein the matrix dissolves or dissociates in a biocompatible solvent that allows recovery of the dried biological sample, and wherein the matrix is capable of preventing degradation of an isolated DNA fragment of at least 10 kilobases during substantially dry storage of the DNA fragment in the matrix at 85°C for a time period of at least two weeks. wherein R 1 is selected from aryl, arylaklyl, -H, -CH 3 -CH 2 -CH 3, -CH 2 CH 2 OH, CH 2 CHOHCH 3, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH, and CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 OH, wherein X is selected from -CH 2 -, -CH 2 CH 2 -, -CH 2 CHOH, -CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 -, CH 2 CH 2 CH 2 CH 2, CH 2 CHOHCH 2 and -CH 2 CHOHCHOHCH 2 -, wherein Y is selected from COO - and SO 3 -, and wherein Z is selected from -CH 2 -, -CHOH-, O and S; wherein the borate composition and the stabilizer are present at a molar ratio that is selected from a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 1:10, a molar ratio of from 5:1 to 1:5, and a molar ratio of from 20:1 to 1:20, wherein the matrix dissolves or dissociates in a biocompatible solvent that allows recovery of the dried biological sample, and wherein the matrix is capable of preventing degradation of an isolated DNA fragment of at least 10 kilobases during substantially dry storage of the DNA fragment in the matrix at 85°C for a time period of at least two weeks.