DNA barcoding: A different perspective to introducing undergraduate students to DNA sequence analysis

Education in biochemistry teaching laboratories focus primarily on applying biochemical techniques to understanding human disease, biochemistry, and biotechnology. With anthropogenic climate change, there is a renewed interest in quantifying biodiversity, especially with the use of molecular-based approaches such as DNA barcoding. This 3-week laboratory exercise allowed undergraduate students to explore DNA sequencing, analysis, and DNA barcoding. Students extracted DNA from insect legs and amplified a 650 bp section of Cytochrome C oxidase I gene by PCR, and confirmed the success of their PCR by DNA gel electrophoresis. The PCR products were submitted for sequencing and students analyzed the sequences using FinchTV, Genbank, and the Barcode of Life Database. Based on the DNA sequences of their PCR products students were able to identify the species of insects. This lab exercise provides a different context to introducing students to analyzing DNA sequences and using DNA databases.