title: Increasing global participation in genetics research through DNA barcoding.
abstract: DNA barcoding--the sequencing of short, standardized DNA regions for specimen identification and species discovery--has promised to facilitate rapid access to biodiversity knowledge by diverse users. Here, we advance our opinion that increased global participation in genetics research is beneficial, both to scientists and for science, and explore the premise that DNA barcoding can help to democratize participation in genetics research. We examine publication patterns (2003-2014) in the DNA barcoding literature and compare trends with those in the broader, related domain of genomics. While genomics is the older and much larger field, the number of nations contributing to the published literature is similar between disciplines. Meanwhile, DNA barcoding exhibits a higher pace of growth in the number of publications as well as greater evenness among nations in their proportional contribution to total authorships. This exploration revealed DNA barcoding to be a highly international discipline, with growing participation by researchers in especially biodiverse nations. We briefly consider several of the challenges that may hinder further participation in genetics research, including access to training and molecular facilities as well as policy relating to the movement of genetic resources.
authors.affiliation: a Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.|b Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Adamowicz
authors.affiliation: a Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinke
mesh_terms: D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic / Q000379:methods; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D036281:Genetic Research; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D058992:Social Participation
keywords: DNA barcoding; International Barcode of Life; codage à barres de l’ADN; collaboration; genomics; génomique; projet international du code barre du vivant; research trends; tendances en recherche