Abstract

The current popularity of DNA barcoding relates to its potential power coupled with its intuitively pleasing simplicity. It is based on the premise of using a standard short region of DNA as a universal tool for identifying organisms.2 The aim is to establish a large-scale reference sequence database against which unknown samples can be queried for identification. Where sequences are found that are divergent from others in the database, the corresponding specimens are flagged up as potential new species warranting further investigation. Costa and Carvalho3 describe some of the potential societal benefits of DNA barcoding in the context of fish identification and also summarise some of the potential benefits to the discipline of taxonomy itself