Species Resolution Rate
Definition
The proportion of species-level queries for which the barcoding approach returns an unambiguous species identification rather than only a genus or family assignment.
- Field
- DNA barcoding, plant and animal identification
- Measures
- Proportion of queries resolved to species level
- Limiting factors
- Reference database gaps, marker discriminatory power
- Contrast outcome
- Genus- or family-level assignment
Common questions
Why does the resolution rate differ between DNA markers?+
Some markers accumulate variation faster between closely related species than others, so a marker with low variability at the species level produces more genus-only calls even on well-preserved samples.
Can a low resolution rate for a group still be forensically useful?+
Yes, a genus- or family-level result can still exclude or narrow a source, for example ruling out a protected species group, even when it cannot pin down the exact species.
Related terms
- BOLD
- Barcode of Life Data System, an international curated database linking COI sequences to verified voucher specimens with collection locality and taxonomic annotation....
- Chloroplast Genome (Plastome)
- A circular, 120-160 kb genome inside plant chloroplasts, present in hundreds of copies per cell. Its high copy number makes it recoverable...
- DNA Barcoding
- Species identification using a short, standardised region of the mitochondrial genome. For animals, the primary barcode marker is a 648-base-pair segment of...
- matK
- Maturase K gene, located in the chloroplast trnK intron. The second CBOL-approved plant barcode marker, with an approximately 870 bp diagnostic amplicon....
- rbcL
- A chloroplast gene encoding the large subunit of RuBisCO (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase). One of the two CBOL-standardized plant barcode loci. Widely amplifiable but...