'Barcode' DNA used in plant identification

A ' barcode ' gene can be used to classify most of the plants on Earth that have just been identified. This gene can be used to distinguish plants with just a small sample and produce new methods to easily classify many different plants in areas like species of tropical rainforest. This will lead to precise methods of formulating herbal ingredients in different types of powders, for example in traditional Chinese medicine and can help control and prevent the illegal transport of plants. rare.

The team found that the matK gene sequence differs between plants but is almost identical in plants of the same species. Thus, the matK gene can provide scientists with a way to easily distinguish different species of plants, even close-to-species species that look alike to ordinary people.

They discovered this by analyzing DNA from different plants. They found that when a species has relatives close to another species, their common difference lies in the matK DNA.

Scientists study orchids that are particularly diverse in tropical forests in Costa Rica.(Photo: iStockphoto / Rob Knight)

The research team led by Dr. Vincent Savolainen of the Royal College of London's Life Sciences Department and the Royal Kew Botanical Garden commander conducted two large-scale studies: One was on the spread differences in Costa Rica's tropical forests, and the rest of the research on trees and shrubs in Kruger National Park, South Africa. Dr. Savolainen and his colleagues in the United Kingdom also received support from the University of Johannesburg, University of Costa Rica, who play an equally important role in this new discovery.

Based on samples obtained from Costa Rica, Dr. Savolainen and colleagues can use the matK gene to identify 1600 orchids. During the process, they discovered that a type that was previously thought to be actually two separate species. This species lives on different slopes in the mountains and has different shaped flowers to adapt to different pollinators.

In South Africa, the team used the matK gene to identify the trees and shrubs of Kruger National Park, which is quite famous for its animals.

Dr. Savolainen explained that the long-term goal is to build the genetic data of the matK DNA of as many plants as possible , based on the information they gathered from Costa Rica and South Africa. Samples can be compared to this data and accurately identify many different species.

'In the future, we want the idea of ​​reading this genetic' bar code 'into a handheld device that can deliver any environment and analyze matK DNA of any plant species in a way. Easy to save and fast. Then compare the results with the data and give the result of instant identification. '

Although Dr. Savolainen admits that this technology device may be years away, he said the application of the method plays a significant role. 'There are many cases of plant classification measures. to be impractical - for example, in ports or airports to check whether this type of plant is illegally transported, or in places like Costa Rica the classification of only one group of plants, such as orchids, also become very difficult. '

However, the matK gene may not be enough to identify all plants on Earth. In some groups of some species, additional genetic information may be needed to identify species at the species level because the hybrid process - cross-pollinated species and re-arranged genetic material - may interfere with communication. Genetic information provided by MatK.