A Species in a Second: Promise of DNA ‘Bar Codes’

December 14, 2004 | Source: New York Times

If it works as promised, DNA bar coding will assist in the urgent task of cataloging unknown species before their ranks are decimated by extinction.

The technique depends on analyzing part of just one gene, the same gene in all cases, for every species.

If and when a DNA bar code database of all terrestrial plant and animal species is established, a field biologist could take a tiny piece of tissue, like a scale or hair or leaf, from the unknown specimen, and feed it into a hand-held device for analysis. With a cellphone call to the database, the device would identify the species and present its photo and description.