Barcode Hong Kong Project.

Here is where we collect the information of specimens collected for the Hong Kong Barcode Project.

DNA barcoding is a new way to develop taxonomies and distinguish between species that look alike but may not be closely related evolutionarily.

Just like the barcodes in a supermarket that identifies the different products according to a universal product code, a DNA barcode is a unique DNA sequence that uniquely identifies each species of living thing.

Environmental protection and conservation are really important. But before we can protect or conserve something we first need to know of its existence. We cannot protect things that we do not know are there.

Through the Barcode Hong Kong project we aim to collect DNA barcodes of the total biodiversity of Hong Kong, and thus to form a complete database of Hong Kong’s biodiversity.

This will be a huge task, but with the help of citizen scientists we will be able to do it.

By joining the project you will learn:
• Molecular biology skills such as DNA extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis.
• Bioinformatics and systematics such as sequence alignment, phylogenetic analyses, speciation, evolution, biogeography.
• Basic taxonomy by identifying the different species and even describing new species that might be discovered.
• To appreciate the biodiversity of Hong Kong’s nature.

Get involve and take part in this hands on movement and be more connected to the world of Biology than just reading about it in textbooks! less ↑