DNA barcoding is a method of species identification using a short section of DNA from a specific gene or genes. The premise is that a DNA sequence can be used to uniquely identify an organism by comparing it to a reference library of DNA sequences. For animals, the cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene is commonly used, while plants may use the rbcL, matK, or trnH-psbA genes. Fungi typically use the internal transcribed spacer region. The process involves isolating DNA from a sample, amplifying the target region via PCR, sequencing the results, and comparing the sequence to reference databases to identify the matching species. Applications include taxonomy, pest/disease control, food safety, conservation,

1. DNA BARCODING
Dr. ABDULJALEEL K
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Zoology
Government College, Kasaragod

2. Dr. Paul Hebert.
Father of DNA barcoding
https://www.univcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GEI-2018-winners-Paul-Hebert.jpg

3. DNA barcoding
• A method of species identification using a
short section of DNA from a specific gene or
genes.
• The premise of DNA barcoding is that by
comparison with a reference library of such
DNA sequence, an individual sequence can
be used to uniquely identify an organism to
species,

4. Animal barcoding studies
• Use a region in the
mitochondrial
cytochrome c oxidase
1 gene (“CO1”).
• 16 S rRNA etc

5. Plant barcoding studies
• use one or a few plastid
regions
• e.g. rbcL and matK, and
the non-coding spacer
trnH-psbA)
• the internal transcribed
spacer (ITS) region of
nuclear ribosomal DNA.

6. Fungal barcoding studies
• Use the internal
transcribed spacer
(ITS) region in the
nuclear ribosomal
cistron.

7. Steps
• 1: Isolate DNA from the sample
• 2: Amplify the target DNA barcode region using PCR
• 3: Sequence the PCR products
• 4: Compare the resulting sequences against reference
databases to find the matching species

12. Applications
• Taxonomy and species identification
• Pest and disease control
• Food production and safety
• Resource management
• Conservation
• Research
• Education
• Recreation.

13. References
• https://ibol.org/about/dna-barcoding/
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DNA_barcoding
• https://www.univcan.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/GEI-2018-winners-
Paul-Hebert.jpg