DNA Barcoding for Assessing Biodiversity

Ramirez J.L.; Núñez-Rodriguez D.; Britzke R.; Siccha-Ramirez R.; Ramírez R. · Conservation Genetics in the Neotropics (2023) · DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-34854-9_2

Resumen

DNA barcoding is a powerful tool to identify species using nucleotide differences found in the cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial gene between species. Since it was proposed, several projects are promoting the construction of a DNA barcode library for all eukaryotes. DNA barcoding in conjunction with single-gene species delimitation methods have been used to estimate diversity at species level, allowing a rapid and comprehensive assessment of biodiversity. These methods have been developed with the purpose of clustering data sets of orthologous sequences in molecular operational taxonomic unit (MOTU). The MOTUs obtained by these methods could be compared with the taxonomic data to discover hidden diversity. In this chapter we discuss the main concepts and methodologies on DNA barcoding approach and review the use of species delimitation methods in the Neotropics. The huge biodiversity, lack of taxonomic effort and scarcity of funds are still challenging the broad use of this technology in the Neotropics. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023, Corrected Publication 2023.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos