近日,，來自中國海洋大學(xué)水產(chǎn)學(xué)院的研究人員在美國《公共科學(xué)圖書館—綜合》（PLoS ONE）上發(fā)表了題為“How DNA Barcodes Complement Taxonomy and Explore Species Diversity: The Case Study of a Poorly Understood Marine Fauna”的研究論文,。
簾蛤科是海洋雙殼貝類中物種數(shù)量最多的一個門類，命名的種類有500余種,，其中許多種類具有重要經(jīng)濟(jì)價(jià)值,。然而，由于種內(nèi)和種間表型的多態(tài)性,，一些簾蛤科貝類很難單靠形態(tài)特征來鑒定,。近年來,，人類活動帶來的空前的生物多樣性危機(jī)日益嚴(yán)重，為了準(zhǔn)確評估生物多樣性并進(jìn)一步有效保護(hù)這些形態(tài)分類混亂的簾蛤貝類,，亟需一種快速而且簡單的方法來界定它們的種的界限,。
該研究利用基于線粒體COI基因的DNA條形碼技術(shù)，分析了中國沿海60種簾蛤貝類的315個體,，發(fā)現(xiàn)幾乎所有形態(tài)上能夠鑒定到種的個體都形成獨(dú)自的DNA條形碼簇,；形態(tài)上不能確定種名的26個體中，12個體被鑒定到已知種,，其余14個體形成5個單獨(dú)的支系,，可能代表未描述的新種，或者至少是在國內(nèi)未記錄的種類,。此外,，在5個傳統(tǒng)的形態(tài)種中發(fā)現(xiàn)隱存種的存在。該研究證實(shí)了DNA條形碼技術(shù)能有效鑒定海洋貝類,，同時能通過為分類修訂提供有用信息,、指示鑒別性的形態(tài)特征和標(biāo)示隱存種，輔助分類和評估生物多樣性,。這是迄今為止國內(nèi)外最大規(guī)模的海洋貝類DNA條形碼研究,。美國洛克菲勒大學(xué)Mark Stoeckle教授在DNA條形碼博客（http://phe.rockefeller.edu/barcode/blog）中介紹了該研究成果，并對作者首次提出的DNA條形碼除具有物種鑒定和隱存種發(fā)掘作用外,，還具有“Taxonomy disentanglement”第三種作用的觀點(diǎn)予以充分肯定,。
該論文是在李琪教授的指導(dǎo)下，由博士研究生陳軍等完成,。該研究得到了國家863計(jì)劃和國家自然科學(xué)基金課題的資助,。(生物谷 Bioon.com)
doi:10.1016/j.cell.2005.08.020
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[標(biāo)題]Tet Proteins Can Convert 5- Methylcytosine to 5-Formylcytosine and 5- Carboxylcytosine
John M. Dawes, Margarita Calvo, James R. Perkins, Kathryn J. Paterson, Hannes Kiesewetter, Carl Hobbs, Timothy K. Y. Kaan, Christine Orengo, David L. H. Bennett and Stephen B. McMahon
The species boundaries of some venerids are difficult to define based solely on morphological features due to their indistinct intra- and interspecific phenotypic variability. An unprecedented biodiversity crisis caused by human activities has emerged. Thus, to access the biological diversity and further the conservation of this taxonomically muddling bivalve group, a fast and simple approach that can efficiently examine species boundaries and highlight areas of unrecognized diversity is urgently needed. DNA barcoding has proved its effectiveness in high-volume species identification and discovery. In the present study, Chinese fauna was chosen to examine whether this molecular biomarker is sensitive enough for species delimitation, and how it complements taxonomy and explores species diversity.The present study shows that DNA barcoding is effective in species delimitation and can aid taxonomists by indicating useful diagnostic morphological traits, informing needful revision, and flagging unseen species. Moreover, the BOLD system, which deposits barcodes, morphological, geographical and other data, has the potential as a convenient taxonomic platform.
