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20 years since the introduction of DNA barcoding: from theory to application

  • Animal Genetics • Review
  • Published:
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Abstract

Traditionally, taxonomic identification has relied upon morphological characters. In the last two decades, molecular tools based on DNA sequences of short standardised gene fragments, termed DNA barcodes, have been developed for species discrimination. The most common DNA barcode used in animals is a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase (COI) mitochondrial gene, while for plants, two chloroplast gene fragments from the RuBisCo large subunit (rbcL) and maturase K (matK) genes are widely used. Information gathered from DNA barcodes can be used beyond taxonomic studies and will have far-reaching implications across many fields of biology, including ecology (rapid biodiversity assessment and food chain analysis), conservation biology (monitoring of protected species), biosecurity (early identification of invasive pest species), medicine (identification of medically important pathogens and their vectors) and pharmacology (identification of active compounds). However, it is important that the limitations of DNA barcoding are understood and techniques continually adapted and improved as this young science matures.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Scott Mills for improving the English text and for his suggestions to improve the manuscript, and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.

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  1. Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia

    Živa Fišer Pečnikar & Elena V. Buzan

  2. Science and Research Centre, University of Primorska, Garibaldijeva 1, 6000, Koper, Slovenia

    Živa Fišer Pečnikar & Elena V. Buzan

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Fišer Pečnikar, Ž., Buzan, E.V. 20 years since the introduction of DNA barcoding: from theory to application. J Appl Genetics 55, 43–52 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13353-013-0180-y

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