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DNA Mini-barcodes

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DNA Barcodes

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 858))

Abstract

Conventional DNA barcoding uses an approximately 650 bp DNA barcode of the mitochondrial gene COI for species identification in animal groups. Similar size fragments from chloroplast genes have been proposed as barcode markers for plants. While PCR amplification and sequencing of a 650 bp fragment is consistent in freshly collected and well-preserved specimens, it is difficult to obtain a full-length barcode in older museum specimens and samples which have been preserved in formalin or similar DNA-unfriendly preservatives. A comparable issue may prevent effective DNA-based authentication and testing in processed biological materials, such as food products, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals. In these cases, shorter DNA sequences—mini-barcodes—have been robustly recovered and shown to be effective in identifying majority of specimens to a species level. Furthermore, short DNA regions can be utilized via high-throughput sequencing platforms providing an inexpensive and comprehensive means of large-scale species identification. These properties of mini-barcodes, coupled with the availability of standardized and universal primers make mini-barcodes a feasible option for DNA barcode analysis in museum samples and applied diagnostic and environmental biodiversity analysis.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by grants from Genome Canada through the Ontario Genomics Institute, Environment Canada and NSERC to MH.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biodiversity Institute of Ontario & Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Mehrdad Hajibabaei

  2. Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada

    Charly McKenna

Authors
  1. Mehrdad Hajibabaei
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  2. Charly McKenna
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mehrdad Hajibabaei .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Museum of Natural History, Dept. Botany, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW.,, Washington, 20560-0166, District of Columbia, USA

    W. John Kress

  2. National Museum of Natural History, Dept. Botany, Smithsonian Institution, 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW.,, Washington, 20560-0166, District of Columbia, USA

    David L. Erickson

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Hajibabaei, M., McKenna, C. (2012). DNA Mini-barcodes. In: Kress, W., Erickson, D. (eds) DNA Barcodes. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 858. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-591-6_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-591-6_15

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-590-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-591-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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