A Plea for Standardized Nuclear Markers in Metazoan DNA Taxonomy. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eberle, Jonas; Ahrens, Dirk; Mayer, Christoph; Niehuis, Oliver; Misof, Bernhard
• Is Part Of: Trends in ecology & evolution. Volume 35:Number 4(2020)
• Page Start: 336
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: genomics -- species delimitation -- nuclear DNA -- multilocus barcoding -- single-copy genes; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution (Biology) -- Periodicals; 576.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.12.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0169-5347

Abstract

Abstract : The ease of sequencing DNA barcodes promoted a species identification system universally applicable across animal phyla. However, relying on a single mitochondrial DNA fragment has a number of drawbacks that can mislead species delimitation and identification. Implementation of multiple nuclear markers would mitigate the limits of the current barcoding system if these markers are universally applicable across species, carry sufficient information to discriminate between closely related species, and if sequencing and analyzing these markers can be automatized. As sequencing costs continue to fall, we believe that the time is right to extend DNA barcoding. Here we argue that nearly universal single-copy nuclear protein-coding genes deliver the desired characteristics and could be used to reliably delimit and identify animal species. Highlights: DNA barcoding, the sequencing of one or more agreed DNA fragments, has greatly improved species delimitation and identification efforts. Barcoding of Metazoa rests on a single barcoding gene, COI, which restricts the power of the approach. A multilocus DNA taxonomy approach that includes multiple nuclear genes could mitigate the drawbacks associated with relying exclusively on COI . Here we compare and discuss possible nuclear marker systems for DNA taxonomic purposes and conclude that universal single-copy orthologs (USCOs) unite most of the properties desired from a nuclear barcoding marker system. Given the universal applicably of USCOs across Metazoa, we argue that the time has come to extend the current system for barcoding animals.