DNA Barcoding Services in India
Species Identification & Authentication. Our ISO-certified lab offers accurate, fast, and cost-effective species identification for plants, animals, fungi, and microbes.
What is DNA Barcoding?
DNA barcoding is a molecular technique used to identify biological specimens using short, standardized segments of DNA (known as DNA barcodes). It works similarly to how a supermarket scanner uses the black stripes of a universal product code (UPC) to identify items. DNA barcoding provides a fast, accurate, and standardized method for species identification.
It is an essential tool for biodiversity research, food authentication, forensics, and discovering cryptic species that look identical but are genetically distinct.
Standard DNA Barcoding Markers by Taxonomic Group
- Animals (Invertebrates & Vertebrates): Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene from mitochondrial DNA.
- Plants: Two chloroplast genes: rbcL and matK. Sometimes supplemented with nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) for better resolution.
- Fungi & Oomycetes: Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. For higher resolution, we also sequence TEF1-alpha or beta-tubulin.
- Bacteria: 16S rRNA gene (V3-V4 or full length).
- Microalgae & Diatoms: 18S rRNA, rbcL, and ITS.
- Nematodes & Platyhelminthes: 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI.
How DNA Barcoding Works
The barcode DNA is used as the template for PCR.
Universal primers amplify the same segment in many related organisms.
PCR amplification produces multiple copies of the target.
The resulting amplicons are sequenced by Sanger sequencing.
DNA sequence is directly different between closely related species.
The DNA sequence variations are used for tracking the organism across the online database and identifying its exact species.
Our DNA Barcoding Workflow – End-to-End Service
Consultation & Sample Advise
Providing guidance on sample collection, transport, and selection of the appropriate marker.
DNA Extraction & QC
High-quality genomic DNA extraction from tissues, blood, leaves, or processed foods followed by spectrophotometric QC.
PCR Amplification
Target-specific or universal primer amplification of the barcode region.
Sanger Sequencing
Bidirectional ABI capillary sequencing for maximum accuracy.
Bioinformatics Analysis
Contig assembly, base calling, BLAST search against NCBI/BOLD, and phylogenetic tree construction.
Deliverables & Data Release
Raw .ab1 files, FASTA sequences, comprehensive ID reports, and submission ready files for GenBank.
Applications of DNA Barcoding Services
- • Biodiversity & Taxonomy
- • Animal & Plant Conservation
- • Food Safety & Authentication (detecting adulteration, mislabeling)
- • Clinical & Agricultural Diagnostics
- • Forensics
- • Discovery of Cryptic Species
DNA Barcoding vs. Other Methods
Advantages
- ✓ Rapid and accurate identification regardless of the specimen's life stage.
- ✓ Does not require morphological expertise.
- ✓ Effective for fragmented or processed tissue where morphology is lost.
Limitations
- ✗ May not resolve very closely related species (hybridization & incomplete lineage sorting).
- ✗ Requires good-quality reference DNA databases (e.g., BOLD, GenBank).
For deeper resolution, explore Metagenomics or Whole Genome Sequencing
Get Started with DNA Barcoding in India
Ready to authenticate your biological samples? Yaazh Xenomics offers comprehensive end-to-end DNA barcoding solutions with fast turnaround times.