DNA Barcoding: the Molecular Detective

Mohd N. Siti-Azizah (School of Biological Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 2Centre of Marine and Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang)

Proceedings of Annual International Conference Syiah Kuala University - Life Sciences & Engineering Chapter
Vol 3, No 1 (2013): Life Sciences

The existing taxonomic identification of most taxa has mainly been throughmorphological characters. However, there are limitations to relying primarily on morphology when attempting to identify species during various stages of their development or when examining fragmentary or processed remains. DNA barcoding is a diagnostic tool in which short DNA sequences are utilised for species identification. We describe here some of the works that have been conducted in our laboratory as well with collaborators on the utilisation of this technique