Barcode of Life Database (BOLD)
Definition
An online reference library of DNA barcode sequences (primarily COI gene) linked to voucher specimens in natural history collections. Used to identify unknown specimens by sequence comparison when morphological keys are absent or ambiguous.
- Type
- Online DNA barcode reference database
- Primary marker
- COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) gene
- Records linked to
- Voucher specimens in natural history collections
- Main forensic use
- Species identification when morphology is absent or ambiguous
Common questions
When is BOLD used instead of a morphological key?+
It is used when the specimen is fragmentary, degraded, or at a life stage that lacks the diagnostic morphological features a key relies on, such as a larva, a tissue fragment, or stomach contents. Sequence comparison can still identify the source species even when no usable morphology survives.
What limits how much weight a BOLD match can carry in court?+
The database's coverage is uneven across taxa and regions, so an absence of a close match does not rule out a species, only that a reference sequence is missing. Voucher specimen quality and correct prior identification of reference records also affect reliability, so the match should be reported alongside its reference coverage, not as a bare identification.
Related terms
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- Voucher Specimen
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- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
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