DNA barcoding uses mitochondrial DNA to identify unknown species by comparing DNA sequences to a reference database of known species. The workshop demonstrated DNA barcoding techniques like extracting and sequencing mitochondrial DNA from fish samples. While a useful identification tool, DNA barcoding must be supplemented with taxonomic observation to avoid misclassification, as two species can share the same mitochondrial DNA. The workshop also covered proteomics to identify active enzymes in samples and construct evolutionary trees, helping classify species. Participants learned about DNA barcoding, proteomics, and one researcher's work identifying rare worm species.

1. 1st
Summary-Genomics: Fish DNA Barcoding & Protein Profiling Workshop
& My Life with Worms: Travelogue of Research with Nemertea January
21-22, 2014 Dr. Pat Phelps & Dr. Jon. Norenburg
DNA barcoding is a method that uses a genetic marker in an organism's
DNA to identify it as belonging to a particular species. DNA barcoding
focuses on identifying an unknown sample in terms of a preexisting
classification. This is very useful but this technique needs to be
combined with observing the species in order to classify them
accurately. The DNA that is used in barcoding is the mitochondrial DNA.
Two different species can posses the same mitochondrial DNA, so that’s
why it is important two combine both barcoding and observing to
classify organisms. For the first part of this workshop we prepared a
single stranded template of DNA. This template of DNA is prepared by
adding the different solutions which are the resuspension, lysis,
neutralization, matrix, wash and distilled water to help break and
discard everything that is not the mitochondrial gene. After that, the
DNA is combined with several other reagents just like the sequencing
primer, DNA polymerase and nucleotides in order for it to be easier to
sequence. DNA barcoding can serve as a new tool for the taxonomists,
supplementing their knowledge as well as helping non-experts make a
quick identification. There are many applications and implications for
this taxonomic method such as identifying the specimen faster,
detecting the diet of an animal based on of its stomach content, among
others. The other activity was based in proteomics, which is a functional
technology that uses chemical probes that react with mechanistically
related classes of enzymes. This technology combined with tandem mass
spectrometry helps the identification of hundreds of active enzymes in
the sample taken. This is a technique very useful for building the
evolution tree of the species being analyzed and also for comparison
between species. In this part of the workshop we had different type of
fish samples in a micro tube to which it was added a buffer and later,
after the fish was removed, the solution was dyed. Then the samples
were run in the gel. We didn’t get to analyze the results of the DNA
sequence and the protein profiling but we learned about the uses of
these techniques. In the last part of our workshop Dr. Norenburg
showed us the different types of worms and about the importance of his
research work. He is one of three people in the world, who is an expert
in worms and are able to identify them. After that the specialist classify
them into clades, so that they be classified by their evolutionary origin.