Teaching Conservation Research to Students: Forensic Barcoding of Bushmeat

Providing students at all educational levels the opportunity to participate in lab-based conservation research gives them the unique opportunity to become excited about the possibilities of this growing area of science. The Genetics Division of CRES has been active in such activities for a number of years and recently expanded its educational outreach through the collaborative teaching of a Forensic Barcoding course with San Diego’s High Tech High.

DNA “barcoding” is the genetic identification of plant and animal species, comparing sequences from a specific mitochondrial gene (COI) with those available in an ever-growing database. Barcoding is being used as a research tool to provide greater understanding of biological diversity and is an integral part of an international effort to establish a universal system for genetically identifying all species. This is relevant to a number of important conservation issues, including enforcement of national and international wildlife regulations, management of captive and wild populations, and monitoring illegal trafficking in animal and plant products. The unlawful hunting and commercial exploitation of wildlife resources has led to a decline in their populations in numerous countries, and the urgency of this matter is in the public eye with the widespread reporting of the bushmeat crisis in Africa and its impact on numerous species of primates and hoof stock.

The High Tech High course provided local high school students with the opportunity to learn how genetic techniques like DNA barcoding can assist those working on conservation issues and specifically addressed the complexities of the bushmeat crisis. The students first isolated DNA from a number of dried jerky meat products, sequenced the COI gene, and then compared their results with those previously generated and available in the GenBank database. This experience was invaluable in allowing the students to truly comprehend how and why species identification is done and the accuracy of using such methods.

The success of this course has inspired interest in other potential student-based projects. The most exciting proposal to date is the request by bushmeat expert Dr. Janette Wallis to introduce a similar course in Nigeria, where CRES is currently helping her establish a teaching lab at the American University of Nigeria. In a country where the bushmeat trade is significantly impacting wildlife, this course has the potential for real world impact. The Genetics Division plans to incorporate the substance of the barcoding course into other education-based projects. All of these efforts will continue to give students the opportunity to understand and appreciate the importance of conservation research in general, as well as the specific contributions of the Genetics Division, of CRES, and of the Zoological Society of San Diego.

More

Collaboration Seeks to Reduce Illegal Bushmeat Trade through Use of Barcodes