DNA barcodes reveal environmental secrets
23.05.12
Finding bad guys via DNA is no longer restricted to the world of the FBI, popular novels or television series like CSI. Now the newfound scientific power to quickly "fingerprint" species via DNA is used to convict rhino poachers in South Africa, unmask fake herbal medicines and expose what eats what in nature among other applications across a wide range of public interests.
All these new uses of DNA "barcoding" - identifying species based on a snippet of DNA - were on the agenda at the 4th International Barcode of Life Conference which took place at Australia's University of Adelaide from November 28 to December 3, 2011.
DNA Barcoding has been the topic of a number of studies the last few years and hot new applications include:
Convicting rhino poachers in South Africa
Dr Cindy Harper, Head of Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria in South Africa started a research project to extract DNA from rhino horn in 2007. She found that the DNA taken from a specific rhino horn can match DNA found on any other part of the rhino or its carcass. This meant that when a rhino horn is found in the possession of a poacher, DNA can link it to a carcass found in the veld, which can lead to a conviction.
Source: Kruger Park Times (press release)