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Published online 27 September 2004 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news040927-2
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DNA barcodes tag species
Genetic sequence could give an instant biological identification.
Wouldn't it be great if every animal had an easy-to-read label, telling you to which species it belonged? Scientists are now one step closer to making this idea a reality, thanks to two studies showing that the DNA sequence of just one gene can tell very closely related species of birds and butterflies apart, and even flag up previously unrecognized ones.
The concept is called DNA barcoding.
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