From Concept to Practice: A Comprehensive Review of Two Decades of DNA Barcoding

Abstract

DNA barcoding has significantly revolutionized species identification and conservation efforts. This review  delves into the applications, challenges, and integration with other complementary molecular and computational tools. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) has enabled the recruitment of different genetic markers (Barcodes) such as cytochrome c oxidase I (MT-CO1) in animals, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit (rbcL), and     maturase K (matK) in plants. Combining these markers with machine-learning algorithms, such as random forests and Convolutional Neural Networks, has led to significant advancements in the accuracy and efficiency of conservation efforts.  DNA barcoding has significantly improved our biological knowledge by identifying cryptic species and resolving taxonomic issues. DNA barcoding has been used in forensics, conservation, and agriculture. And also essential in food identification and product authentication. In this critical era of biodiversity, further development and application of DNA barcoding are crucial for creating effective conservation strategies. The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) aims to standardize and expand DNA barcoding databases, targeting the update of five million specimens from 500,000 species by 2026. The Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) has grown from 5,000 to over 10 million sequences by 2021, demonstrating rapid progress. However, challenges persist, including the limited taxonomic and geographical coverage. Moreover, this scope raises ethical concerns, including biopiracy, which the Nagoya Protocol addresses by emphasizing responsible scientific progress.