DNA Barcoding

The Objective : Overfishing is a major factor in the decline of fish diversity, and productivity of fisheries worldwide. In order to combat overfishing, DNA barcoding could be utilized to identify mislabeled seafood and enforce fishing restrictions. This experiment was intended to test the feasibility of barcoding using a small-scale lab as a species identification tool.

Methods/Materials

In this study, DNA was extracted from five generically labeled samples collected in San Diego seafood markets.

DNA from each sample was isolated, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed, in order to amplify the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) section of mitochondrial DNA for sequencing.

Results

Of the five samples, the CO1 fragment was amplified for three, and two yielded an accurate species ID.

Conclusions/Discussion

These results demonstrated the possibility of implementing small-scale barcoding operations to expose market substitution and in turn help put an end to overfishing.

This project is intended to test the ability of DNA barcoding using a small-scale lab to identify commercially marketed fish in the context of conservation forensics.

Science Fair Project done By Tyler H. Taylor

 

 

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