6 – Characterizing Biodiversity

: Before NGS, “DNA barcoding” was proposed as a means to identify species. It uses a short specific region of the genome where a variable DNA sequence serves as a specific signature that identifies a given species or taxonomic group. DNA barcoding relies on the production of standardized genetic data (DNA barcodes) from reference specimens that are identified by taxonomists and recorded in collections, thus ensuring the application of biological nomenclatures.