This document summarizes an AUA DNA barcoding project on Antigua that aimed to identify local flora through DNA analysis. Students collected plant samples, extracted DNA, and sequenced samples. They uploaded DNA sequences to online databases to analyze similarity to known sequences and identify species. Several samples were successfully identified, including Jasminum fluminense and Talinum paniculatum. The project provided data on local plants and could support further conservation efforts through increased botanical knowledge of the island.

1. AUA DNA
BARCODING
PROJECT
Nicole Gousy, Vithura Kunarathnam, Nick
Pargoff, and Adam Willey

2. What is DNA Barcoding?
● DNA barcodes allow non-experts to objectively identify different species
regardless of what the specimen has been exposed to or where it came
from
● A species’ DNA is uniquely different to them
● DNA barcoding turns DNA into an easily translatable, unique pattern of
bars, such as seen in a consumer product’s universal product code (UPC)

3. Goals
● DNA Barcoding has never been performed on the flora living
on the island of Antigua
● This project hopes to initiate conservation efforts for this
island, as well as surrounding Caribbean islands
● To be able to connect Antiguan flora to Barcoding projects
around the globe

4. Acquiring the Data
● Location: Lookout Trail, Galleon Beach

5. Plant-crushing method (aka DNA
extraction and PCR)
1. Get
plant
2. Extract
DNA
3. Run a gel
electrophoresis
4. Sequence
DNA
5. Upload DNA sequences
to DNA subway and Blast
websites

6. Data analysis and input
● Upload DNA into DNA subway, a DNA
sequence annotator and analysis
website
● Upload the resulting sequence to Bold-
Systems SPD website, an integrated
workbench supporting the assembly,
analysis and publication of DNA
barcode data by students.
● Enter Barcode data into BLAST website
to identify regions of similarity between
documented sequences and the
unknown sequence and calculates the
statistical significance

7. Findings
● Several of our collected samples produced a positive
identification of known species when entered into the
BLAST nucleotide analysis software
● When positive identifications came up, the unknown
species was identified, documented and further
researched

8. Cool plant Specimen
Jasminum fluminense (Vell.)
“Common Jasmine”
medicinal plant used by Shangaan
people in villages under Jongilanga tribal
council, South Africa as a STI medication
[7]
Talinum paniculatum (Jacq.
Gaertn.) “Fameflower"
a source of pharmaceutical efficacy
similar to ginseng, and a widely
distributed and planted edible
vegetable [1, 5]
Rivina humilis L.
“Bloodberry”
the berries are safe to consume,
rich in nutrient content and exhibit
efficient biological activity [4]

9. Conclusions
● Several of the species we collected were
able to be sequenced, identified and
recorded in the Barcode Database
● The efforts of this research will lead to
further evaluation of the floral species
present on the island
● In addition to further experimentation,
island conservation efforts will increase
due to increased knowledge on what
species of plants live on the island

10. If we were to repeat this experiment
● We would want to ensure we received
enough of the plant sample to ensure a
successful DNA extraction
● We would want to repeat the PCR process
and electrophoresis process to ensure the
best DNA samples of each species get sent
for analyzation
● We would want to further analyze the
surveyed location for increased awareness
of what potentially could be found
Vachellia farnesiana

11. Thank you!
We would also like to extend a sincere “thank you” to
Dr. Joseph Cross and Dr. Karen James for their
mentorship and guidance in the lab and for suffering
up and down the trails looking for plants with us

12. References
1. Ramos, M. P. O. et al., (2010), Antinociceptive and edematogenic activity and chemical constituents of Talinum paniculatum
Wild, Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2(6), 265-274
2. Biosecurity Queensland Government Weeds of Australia. “Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet.”
Tradescantia Zebrina, keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/rivina_humilis.htm.
3. Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. “Brazilian Jasmine (Jasminum Fluminense ).” Multiflora Rose, Rosa
Multiflora Rosales: Rosaceae, 23 Mar. 2009, www.invasive.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=5392237.
4. Khan, Mohammad Imtiyaj, et al. “Betalains Rich Rivina Humilis L. Berry Extract as Natural Colorant in Product (Fruit Spread
and RTS Beverage) Development.” Journal of Food Science and Technology, vol. 52, no. 3, 2013, pp. 1808–1813.,
doi:10.1007/s13197-013-1175-8.
5. Liu, Xia, et al. “Chloroplast Genome of the Folk Medicine and Vegetable Plant Talinum Paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.: Gene
Organization, Comparative and Phylogenetic Analysis.” Molecules, vol. 23, no. 4, 2018, p. 857.,
doi:10.3390/molecules23040857.
6. Manager. “Talinum Paniculatum (Jacq.) Gaertn.” Nature, www.asia-medicinalplants.info/talinum-paniculatum-jacq-gaertn/.
7. Tshikalange, Thilivhali Emmanuel, et al. “An Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Used In Villages Under Jongilanga
Tribal Council, Mpumalanga, South Africa.” African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, vol. 13,
no. 6, 2016, pp. 83–89., doi:10.21010/ajtcam.v13i6.13.
8. WoFP. “Vachellia Farnesiana (Mimosa Bush).” World of Flowering Plants, World of Flowering Plants, 27 Oct. 2018,
worldoffloweringplants.com/vachellia-farnesiana-mimosa-bush-needle-bush/.
9. Zicha, Ondrej. “BioLib: Biological Library.” Gerbillus Campestris (North African Gerbil) | BioLib.cz,
www.biolib.cz/en/taxon/id199881/.