GOVERNMENT-DRIVEN DNA BARCODING PROJECT FOR KOREAN NATIVE SPECIES

Jun, J. (1), Han, J. E. (1), Kim, S. (1), Lee, B. (1), KWAK, M. (1)

(1) National Institute of Biological Resources, Korea

Panel Talk, Networks and Institutions, Napier LG24, Saturday, 12:00 to 12:15

The Ministry of Environment in Korea launched a new DNA Barcoding project for Korean indigenous species in 2011. The project aim is to analyze all indigenous species to be collected in Korea. The project is being performed by National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), being able to achieve integration of other related projects: Compilation of national list of indigenous species and several flora and fauna projects. As of Dec 2010, a total of 36,921 species were reported in Korea and NIBR DNA bank collected approximately 6,700 species (approximately 40,000 specimens) including specimens from south-east Asia. Among them, more than one individuals from 2,027 species were analyzed with their barcoding regions: COI for animals, ITS, matK, and rbcL for plants, ITS for fungi. The specimens are being chosen with the criteria of the existence of voucher specimen and representativeness of specimens for species distribution and variation. All vouchers from this project were stored in NIBR and their passport data were deposited in the internal specimen management database. A web-based DNA barcode management system is being constructed connected to the internal specimen management database as well as the DNA bank web-catalog to the public. To promote sequence submissions, the editing modules for barcoding primers and the free data storage are being designed in the DNA barcode management system for project participants. Although the most important key to project success might be the reliable sample collections, there is no taxonomist in some taxa in Korea, i. e. Platyhelminthes, Cthenophora and Bryophyta. The solutions would be a political support for rearing experts in the long run in Korea. We had several practical applications for species identification using DNA barcoding: 1) from bird strike, 2) for unknown hairs from wild animals, 3) for confiscated Felidae leathers and 4) for providing scientific evidence for illegal trade of reptiles.

Keywords: Biorepositories and Collections