title: Critical factors for assembling a high volume of DNA barcodes.
abstract: Large-scale DNA barcoding projects are now moving toward activation while the creation of a comprehensive barcode library for eukaryotes will ultimately require the acquisition of some 100 million barcodes. To satisfy this need, analytical facilities must adopt protocols that can support the rapid, cost-effective assembly of barcodes. In this paper we discuss the prospects for establishing high volume DNA barcoding facilities by evaluating key steps in the analytical chain from specimens to barcodes. Alliances with members of the taxonomic community represent the most effective strategy for provisioning the analytical chain with specimens. The optimal protocols for DNA extraction and subsequent PCR amplification of the barcode region depend strongly on their condition, but production targets of 100K barcode records per year are now feasible for facilities working with compliant specimens. The analysis of museum collections is currently challenging, but PCR cocktails that combine polymerases with repair enzyme(s) promise future success. Barcode analysis is already a cost-effective option for species identification in some situations and this will increasingly be the case as reference libraries are assembled and analytical protocols are simplified.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1. mhajibab@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajibabaei
authors.forename: Jeremy R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: deWaard
authors.forename: Natalia V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: Sujeevan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ratnasingham
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Dooh
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.forename: Paul D N
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Hebert
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D001330:Electronic Data Processing / Q000379:methods*; D019451:Information Management / Q000379:methods*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA