BARCODE 500K
2010 - 2015Because the development of a DNA-based identification system for all species is both prohibitively expensive and impossible for any single nation, the leaders of the biodiversity science community activated the iBOL Consortium. Our first program, BARCODE 500K, demonstrated DNA barcoding’s capacity to deliver a digital identification system for life.
Key Results
- Delivered DNA barcodes for 500,000 species by 2015.
- Developed the informatics tools and the analytical protocols needed for DNA barcoding to emerge as a vital component of the global biodiversity science infrastructure.
- Raised ~$125 million from grant councils, government agencies, philanthropists, and the private sector.
Nation Nodes
Nations participated as Nodes of the BARCODE 500K program. Nodes were defined as networks of leading researchers and key organizations affiliated to iBOL and engaged in DNA barcoding and/or in funding and advancing biodiversity science in a country or region. While all participated in barcode acquisition, nodes were divided into three main categories:
- National Nodes focus on collecting, identifying, and curating specimens from their own territory.
- Regional Nodes maintain basic sequencing facilities.
- Central Nodes support the bioinformatics facilities required to share barcode records with all nations.
National
Costa Rica
Kenya
Madagascar
New Zealand
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Korea
Regional
Australia
Brazil
India
Mexico
Norway
South Africa
Central
China
European Union
United States
Sponsors
Initiated through Genome Canada’s flagship International Consortium Initiative program, the BARCODE 500K program was supported by a large number of funding organizations and diverse researchers from around the world. We are grateful for their support of the participating nations and of the scientific objectives of this project.
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