Experts in verifying test specimens by DNA barcoding
Verification service for the test species used in ecotoxicology
To date, ecotoxicological test species are usually identified based on morphological characters only, which may often lead to misidentifications because (1) closely related species may differ by a few, easily overlooked characters and (2) several test species are in fact complexes of cryptic species. Since different species can show different responses to toxic substances, an accurate identification of test organisms is critical for the reliability and correct interpretation of ecotoxicological results.
At AllGenetics, we use DNA barcoding to determine the specific identity and, if possible, the genetic lineage of unknown test specimens. This method is based on obtaining a DNA sequence from a specific genomic region of the sample (the DNA barcode). The sequence obtained is then compared against reference databases with DNA barcodes from specimens of known identity. Our expertise in DNA barcoding covers most terrestrial and aquatic test species from diverse taxonomic groups (click here for a complete list of species). If your target species is not in the list, please, do not hesitate to contact us and let us know what your specific testing requirements are.
This verification service can be applied to either guarantee that the laboratory species or strains used for testing are well characterised, or to identify the specimens collected in field studies in a quick and cost-effective way.
AllGenetics, as an active member of technical committee 190/SC 4, has led the preparation of ISO 21286:2019 Soil quality - Identification of ecotoxicological test species by DNA barcoding. This standard details a validated protocol for incorporating DNA barcoding as a quality assurance measure in ecotoxicological testing, with the ultimate goal of improving the consistency and comparability of the results obtained by different laboratories.
Step 1
We isolate DNA from your specimens.
Step 2
We amplify the genomic region of interest (the DNA barcode) using universal or in-house-developed primer pairs.
Step 3
We sequence the PCR products in both directions.
Step 4
We analyse the electropherograms obtained and compare the resulting sequences against reference databases to find the matching species.
What you receive
What we need
Your tissue samples appropriately preserved depending on the sample type (ethanol, silica gel, frozen, or another suitable preservation method). If required, we provide sampling kits and sampling collection guidelines to ensure that your samples arrive at our lab in optimal conditions.