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Discussion Questions


  1. Describe what “DNA barcoding” is.

  2. DNA fingerprinting is often used to identify parts of an unknown body or, in forensic science, to show whether a suspect was at a crime scene. How are fingerprinting and barcoding different in their usefulness for identifying an unknown biological sample?

  3. Currently, DNA from a biological specimen must be sequenced in a laboratory to get its barcode information. In the video, Dr. Janzen uses a plastic comb to represent a future DNA barcode scanner. What are some of the properties that these future barcode scanners will have, according to Dr. Janzen?

  4. Why is DNA barcoding important for conserving biodiversity?


Additional Resources

The International Barcode of Life (iBOL) project


iBOL’s explanation of DNA barcoding


Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) database


BOLD Student Data Portal (classrooms can contribute to the BOLD database)


Barcoding biodiversity (Michael Gross, Current Biology 22(3), 2012, pp. R73—R76)


Footage of Dr. Janzen's discussion of genomics, conservation, and DNA barcoding