{"doi":"10.1098/rspb.2002.2218","title":"Biological identifications through DNA barcodes","abstract":"Although much biological research depends upon species diagnoses, taxonomic expertise is collapsing. We are convinced that the sole prospect for a sustainable identification capability lies in the construction of systems that employ DNA sequences as taxon 'barcodes'. We establish that the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) can serve as the core of a global bioidentification system for animals. First, we demonstrate that COI profiles, derived from the low-density sampling of higher taxonomic categories, ordinarily assign newly analysed taxa to the appropriate phylum or order. Second, we demonstrate that species-level assignments can be obtained by creating comprehensive COI profiles. A model COI profile, based upon the analysis of a single individual from each of 200 closely allied species of lepidopterans, was 100% successful in correctly identifying subsequent specimens. When fully developed, a COI identification system will provide a reliable, cost-effective and accessible solution to the current problem of species identification. Its assembly will also generate important new insights into the diversification of life and the rules of molecular evolution.","journal":"Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences","year":2003,"id":9224,"datarank":19.28811246398051,"base_score":9.486759252149254,"endowment":9.486759252149254,"self_citation_contribution":1.4230138878223884,"citation_network_contribution":17.865098576158122,"self_endowment_contribution":1.4230138878223884,"citer_contribution":17.865098576158122,"corpus_percentile":95.9,"corpus_rank":753,"citation_count":13183,"citer_count":166,"citers_with_citation_signal":166,"citers_with_endowment":166,"datacite_reuse_total":0,"is_dataset":false,"is_oa":true,"file_count":0,"downloads":0,"has_version_chain":false,"published_date":"2003-02-07","authors":[{"id":78737,"name":"Alina Cywinska","orcid":null,"position":1,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":78738,"name":"Shelley L. Ball","orcid":null,"position":2,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":78739,"name":"Jeremy R. deWaard","orcid":"0000-0001-9778-5454","position":3,"is_corresponding":false},{"id":78736,"name":"Paul D. N. Hebert","orcid":"0000-0002-3081-6700","position":0,"is_corresponding":true}],"reference_count":33,"raw_metadata":{"citation_network_status":"fetched"},"created_at":"2026-03-01T18:20:47.508186Z","pmid":null,"pmcid":null,"fwci":null,"citation_percentile":null,"influential_citations":0,"oa_status":null,"license":null,"views":0,"total_file_size_bytes":0,"version_count":0,"clinical_trials":[],"software_tools":[],"db_accessions":[],"linked_datasets":[],"topics":[]}