Talk:DNA barcoding

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I've done a major rewrite, let me know if it sucks. I tried to give some examples that highlight some of the possibilities and problems associated with DNA barcoding. I'm not sure if my referencing is right though as I've never really written a Wikipedia article before. I think the Criticisms section still needs some serious work, more references are needed. Mdhowe 04:38, 3 January 2006 (UTC)

Good rewrite. Putting barcoding in context ("...not a new concept...") is good, as is the bold cutting of some stuff previously there that I had left because I didn't want to step on the toes of prior contributors. The references are also good. I'll make some other changes in the next few days when I have time, and hopefully together we can make topnotch page. Arga Warga 01:28, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks, I was hoping to get a bit of help. I think this is a really interesting topic and I've been looking for an article to contribute heavily too, it would be nice to get it too featured article quality. What do you think about the 'Case Studies' subsection? I wasn't really sure if it was proper Wikipedia style, as this was adapted from an essay I wrote for uni. Mdhowe 08:09, 4 January 2006 (UTC)

For the record, the "not a new concept" line is misleading. DNA barcoding is explictly not based on determining evolutionary relationships; that is, DNA barcoding is not phylogenetics or systematics (although this is a common misconception). The Woese introduction is therefore out of place. The idea of using a standardized gene fragment to identify all animal species (but not to classify them) is a new idea, although you might make the argument that using genetic data to identify "species" is normal practice in bacteria and archaea.

Would it be incorrect to say that DNA barcoding is a tool used in phylogenetics? --Mdhowe 08:14, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Yes, it would be incorrect. Phylogenetic methods (NJ trees) are used in barcode analysis, but barcoding itself is very clearly stated (by actual barcode researchers) to not be phylogenetics.

Not to confuse methodology with a scientific discipline... ;-) No, of course can't barcoding be phylogenetics, just as cladistics despite being the unchallenged leader in phylogenetics methodology is not phylogenetics. The tool collects (barcoding) or analyzes (cladistics) the data, the discipline interprets it and puts its hypotheses to the test against it. Still, at present, molecular barcoding (which is a tool suitable for phylogenetics just like an apple-picker is a tool for picking arboreal Rosaceae fruit) is not really used much in phylogenetics (which is a scientific discipline) because researchers are somewhat hesistant to make much of the method until it has matured (which of course "the guy in the lab across the hall" should do, thank you very much). There is a rather harsh critique of the A. fulgerator study around, I think in the Zool.J.Linn.Soc. something like one year ago, which would benefit the article if it were discussed. The A. fulgerator case is especially damning since IIRC scientific essentials such as reproducibility were somewhat lacking, according to the critique, and many of the barcoded "species" were apparently just morphs. Have it around somewhere on my HD, but as butterflies are not my #1 topic (bird-food, that's what they are), someone else could try to dig it up; it might be many months until I happen across it again.

To go back to the original question: Currently, yes. In 10 years' time, maybe not anymore. Dysmorodrepanis 09:39, 11 November 2006 (UTC)

Moved to DNA barcoding instead of DNA barcode, as this will be a more common search string. Evolver 18:34, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

Maybe this was the right choice, but you did it in the wrong way. You should have used the "move" button. Now you have destroyed the edit history for this page. You might want to ask an admin to fix this. Onco_p53 20:44, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

I tried. Wasn't allowed to use move feature. There was essentially no history anyway (only minor edits here and there), and it has not been destroyed at all. If you want it, go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DNA_barcode&action=history. Evolver 20:50, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

It's 'destroyed' in the sense that it's no longer associated with the place where everyone will do the editing. If you can't move a page (because the target already exists) you should ask an admin to move it at Wikipedia:Requested moves. --Saforrest 20:41, 28 February 2006 (UTC)