DNA Barcoding: Exploring Biodiversity

Did you know that broccoli and kale are actually the same species - Brassica oleracea? That’s right, these produce aisle staples are genetically identical and derive their distinct shapes and tastes from generations of selective breeding. So then, what is a species? And how can scientists use genetic tools to define it?

This hands-on workshop offers an introduction to DNA barcoding - a technique used to identify species based on short, standardized regions of their genetic code.

Just like a supermarket barcode uniquely identifies a product, a DNA barcode can distinguish between thousands of plant, animal, and microbial species using just a tiny tissue sample. This method helps scientists identify species to better understand and protect the planet’s biodiversity.

In this two-session workshop, you will:

• Extract and isolate DNA from a sample
• Use PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to amplify barcode regions
• Send your sample for sequencing
• Analyze the results using bioinformatics tools
• Build a phylogenetic tree to explore how your sample relates to others in nature

Participants are welcome to bring in a plant, invertebrate, or fungal sample they wish to identify, but please no vertebrate or environmental samples (i.e., soil, water). Extra samples will be available!

No prior lab or coding experience is necessary, just curiosity!

COVID-19 Safety Notice:

If you are feeling unwell, suspect that you have been exposed to COVID-19 or have tested positive in the past 7 days, please do not attend and let us know ASAP (aW5mbyB8IGdlbnNwYWNlICEgb3Jn). If you cancel after our 7-day policy, we cannot refund your ticket, but we can exchange and offer credits toward future classes. If you have signed up for Biohacker Boot Camp, we will automatically transfer your registration to the next month’s dates unless you tell us otherwise.

Arden Feil (she/her) is the Biohacker Boot Camp Instructor at Genspace. She currently manages the NYC Science Research Mentoring Consortium at the American Museum of Natural History, overseeing a network of 30+ high school research internships (including Genspace’s Biorocket program!). Before that, she taught lab-based molecular biology programs at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center. She has a M.A. in Biology from Wesleyan University and over 6 years of molecular genetics research experience. Arden believes that the power of science comes from sharing it with others and is dedicated to making hands-on science education accessible and relatable to everyone.

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