First proposed in 2003, the DNA barcoding initiative has generated more than 1000 scientific publications, but none so far in the de facto top science journals, Nature and Science. The barcode library contains over 1 million records from over 100 thousand species, suggesting opportunities for new insights into large-scale patterns and processes in biodiversity. Yet so far relatively few papers have attempted synthetic exploration of this unprecedented genetic resource beyond species identification. To encourage high-profile discovery, Program for the Human Environment is offering $5000 prizes for the first DNA barcoding papers in Nature and Science, as announced earlier this month at the close of Fourth International Barcode of Life Conference, University of Adelaide, Australia. To qualify, the paper must embrace DNA barcoding either in the title or abstract, and cite CBOL and iBOL in the acknowledgments.
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Zookeys
Open access journal ZooKeys announced the first rapid-release, large dataset of bird barcodes, based on 2,808 frozen tissue samples from the Division of Birds, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. This is the first barcode dataset explicitly published under the Fort Lauderdale Principles (Welcome Trust 2003) of early data release adopted by the genomics community. Mark and co-authors hope this is a model that will encourage and allow barcoders to rapidly release data and receive academic credit.
Trinity School TeaBOL
The Trinity School TeaBOL project is featured in cover article for December/January issue of The Helix, an Australian science magazine for children 10+
Barcode High
The November/December 2011 online issue of The Scientist published an article by Mark on the High School Barcode Project, Barcode High.
4th Int’l Barcode of Life Conference
For the 4th International Barcode of Life conference beginning 29 November in Adelaide, Australia, Mark Stoeckle led the preparation of the 2011 DNA Barcoding Highlights report while Jesse worked with David Schindel and Terry Collins on the Adelaide Barcode Conference Press Release. The documents describe well the progress of the barcode movement, which will celebrates its 9 birthday in January 2012.
The History of DNA Barcoding Video
Mark is interviewed by DNA Learning Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on how barcoding went from an idea in 2003 to more than 1 million barcoded specimens in 2011. T
iBOL Essay
As chairman of the International Barcode of Life (iBOL) project, Jesse authored a short essay, “Navigating around hazards to barcoding, 2011†published in the iBOL newsletter
Budget Hero
The Alfred P. Sloan and Richard Lounsbery foundations have supported the creation of an interactive game to reduce the USA federal government budget deficit. The game has been played more than 150,000 times. It’s fun, more fun than actually reducing the deficit. Try the fantasy version at Budget Hero.
Name the Scientist
The New York Times created an interactive game “name the scientist†in which Jesse Ausubel is the wrong answer to the 4th question. Richard Dawkins is the right answer. Still we are flattered to be in such company. Enjoy the game.
Time away
My apologies for absence of recent posts–I am working to get ready for Adelaide Barcode IV conference and will be away from the Barcode Blog for a while.
