Project:

Analyzing DNA Barcodes to Identify Macroinvertebrates

Students:

Brendan Fabian, Anthony Bruno, Aidan Lee, Benjamin Grausso

School:

Eastport South Manor Junior-Senior High School, Suffolk

Mentors:

Robert Bolen

Abstract:

NA Barcoding is used to identify a novel species using a specific DNA sequence. It is also useful in the study of biodiversity to put an identifying tag on various species when taxonomic resources aren’t available. We are isolating the DNA from the mitochondria in the cell of the species, using the technique called PCR to amplify a region of the CO1 gene. The CO1 gene evolves faster than other genes allowing us to identify organisms based on these gene differences. We are examining this to understand the biodiversity that keeps the Peconic River ecosystem stable. Some organisms may be invasive, native, or function as either a biological control or an indicator species. A biological control is when one species prey on another keeping their prey population under control, such as Dragonfly nymphs, which control the population of mosquitoes. The dragonfly nymphs are also indicators of water quality because they need good water quality including high oxygen levels to survive. One major is

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