DNA Barcoding and the Consortium for the Barcode of Life Katie Ferrell, Project Manager National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution / ; fax 202/

Why are we here? 3 Main Goals of the All-Fungi Barcode Initiative Workshop 3 Main Goals of the All-Fungi Barcode Initiative Workshop Work towards a consensus on barcode region(s) Work towards a consensus on barcode region(s) Come up with priorities for barcoding project(s) Come up with priorities for barcoding project(s) Create steering committee charged with Create steering committee charged with presenting barcode region proposal if needed presenting barcode region proposal if needed developing strategies for barcode projects. developing strategies for barcode projects.

A DNA barcode is a short gene sequence taken from standardized portions of the genome, used to identify species

What DNA Barcoding is NOT Barcoding is not DNA taxonomy; no single gene (or character) is adequate Barcoding is not DNA taxonomy; no single gene (or character) is adequate Barcoding is not Tree of Life; barcode clusters are not phylogenetic trees Barcoding is not Tree of Life; barcode clusters are not phylogenetic trees Barcoding is not just COI; standardizing on one region has benefits and limits Barcoding is not just COI; standardizing on one region has benefits and limits Molecules in taxonomy is not new; but large-scale and standardization are new Molecules in taxonomy is not new; but large-scale and standardization are new

Associating Life Stages, Processed Parts, Dimorphic Genders

Uses of DNA Barcodes Applied tool for identifying regulated species: Disease vectors, agricultural pests, invasives Disease vectors, agricultural pests, invasives Environmental indicators, protected species Environmental indicators, protected species Using minimal samples, damaged specimens, gut contents, droppings Using minimal samples, damaged specimens, gut contents, droppings Research tool for improving species-level taxonomy: Associating all life history stages, genders Associating all life history stages, genders Testing species boundaries, finding new variants Testing species boundaries, finding new variants “Triage” tool for flagging potential new species: Undescribed and cryptic species Undescribed and cryptic species

Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) First barcoding publications around 2002 (Hebert, 2003) First barcoding publications around 2002 (Hebert, 2003) Cold Spring Harbor planning workshops in 2003 Cold Spring Harbor planning workshops in 2003 Sloan Foundation 2-year grant for $800K May 2004 Sloan Foundation 2-year grant for $800K May 2004 Secretariat opens at Smithsonian, September 2004 Secretariat opens at Smithsonian, September 2004 First international conference February 2005 First international conference February 2005 $1.55 million 2-year renewal in April 2006 $1.55 million 2-year renewal in April 2006 Now an international affiliation of: Now an international affiliation of: Natural history museums, biodiversity organizations Natural history museums, biodiversity organizations Users: e.g., government agencies Users: e.g., government agencies Private sector biotech companies, database providers Private sector biotech companies, database providers

CBOL Member Organizations: Member organizations, 45 countries 30+ Member organizations from 20+ developing countries

CBOL Structure Member Organizations Executive Committee Working Groups Scientific Advisory Board Secretariat Office

CBOL-Initiated Projects Fish Barcode of Life (FISH-BOL) Fish Barcode of Life (FISH-BOL) 30,000 marine/freshwater species by ,000 marine/freshwater species by 2010 All Birds Barcoding Initiative (ABBI) All Birds Barcoding Initiative (ABBI) 10,000 species by ,000 species by 2010 Tephritid fruit flies Tephritid fruit flies 2,000 pest/beneficial species and relatives by ,000 pest/beneficial species and relatives by 2008 Mosquitoes Mosquitoes 3,300 species by ,300 species by 2008 African scale insects, lake fish, stem-borers African scale insects, lake fish, stem-borers

CBOL’s Working Groups Database: Developing standards for the barcode data repository (INSDC) Database: Developing standards for the barcode data repository (INSDC) DNA: Protocols for formalin-fixed and old museum specimens; Producing LIMS for dissemination DNA: Protocols for formalin-fixed and old museum specimens; Producing LIMS for dissemination Data Analysis: Beyond phenetic methods; population genetics perspective Data Analysis: Beyond phenetic methods; population genetics perspective Plants: Identify gene region(s) for barcoding Plants: Identify gene region(s) for barcoding

Outreach Activities Regional meetings in: Regional meetings in: - Cape Town, South Africa, 7-8 April 2006, SANBI - Nairobi, Kenya, October Brazil, March Taiwan, September 2007 Support from CBOL, host governments and international development agencies Support from CBOL, host governments and international development agencies Second International Barcode Conference Second International Barcode Conference - Taiwan, September 2007

Goals of Regional Meetings Raise awareness Raise awareness Explore potential applications in the region Explore potential applications in the region Assess greatest needs and opportunities in the region Assess greatest needs and opportunities in the region Identify highest priorities, construct national and regional action plans Identify highest priorities, construct national and regional action plans Start intra-regional networks and intercontinental partnerships Start intra-regional networks and intercontinental partnerships

Tephritids (fruit flies) Idea took shape in Stockholm in 2005 Idea took shape in Stockholm in 2005 Formed Steering Committee Formed Steering Committee CBOL supported planning of the Tervuren meeting in February CBOL supported planning of the Tervuren meeting in February Meeting produced proposal for project (Demonstrator project). Meeting produced proposal for project (Demonstrator project). Created networking opportunities Created networking opportunities

Scale Insects Initiative born out of the Cape Town regional meeting in April Initiative born out of the Cape Town regional meeting in April Pest species worldwide Pest species worldwide Formed a Steering Committee Formed a Steering Committee CBOL supported the planning of meeting held in February 2007 related to barcoding scale insects CBOL supported the planning of meeting held in February 2007 related to barcoding scale insects Group faced dual challenges of coming up with appropriate region and developing barcode projects. Group faced dual challenges of coming up with appropriate region and developing barcode projects.

Plant Working Group Working towards finding plant barcode region(s) Working towards finding plant barcode region(s) Kress 2005 proposal for ITS and trnh-psbA Kress 2005 proposal for ITS and trnh-psbA Kew Garden receives Sloan/Moore Foundation support, early 2005 Kew Garden receives Sloan/Moore Foundation support, early 2005 Phase 1 screens 100 genes across 50 sibling species pairs Phase 1 screens 100 genes across 50 sibling species pairs Phase 2 tests of matK, rpcoC1, rpoB, ndhJ, and accD Phase 2 tests of matK, rpcoC1, rpoB, ndhJ, and accD Canadian proposal for rbcL Canadian proposal for rbcL CBOL protocols for approving barcode regions CBOL protocols for approving barcode regions

All-Fungi Barcode Initiative Goals Work towards a consensus on appropriate barcode region(s) for fungi. Work towards a consensus on appropriate barcode region(s) for fungi. Develop priorities for future fungi barcoding projects. Develop priorities for future fungi barcoding projects. Select a steering committee charged with tasks of presenting the barcode region proposal to CBOL and of coordinating the planning of future barcoding projects. Select a steering committee charged with tasks of presenting the barcode region proposal to CBOL and of coordinating the planning of future barcoding projects. CBOL will assist in the support of these planning efforts. CBOL will assist in the support of these planning efforts.