Urban Barcode Project Team Patrice Buckley
Program:
Urban Barcode Project
Year:
2017-18
Research Topic:
Food fraud
Taxonomic Group Studied:
Plants

Project:

DNA Barcoding: Authentication of Ginkgo biloba Supplements
Students:
Tao Abelson-Shaer, Anna Kroner, Elizabeth Zucker
School:
Columbia Prep School, Queens
Mentors:
Patrice Buckley

Abstract:

Ginkgo biloba is found on almost every continent and is recognized as one of the oldest living trees. The leaves of these trees produce bioactive compounds that are believed to improve human health, specifically memory function by increasing blood supply to the brain. We will test eleven different brands of Ginkgo biloba to determine if each in fact contains Ginkgo DNA. We are also interested in examining the price points of each brand to see if the presence of Ginkgo correlates with price. It is our hypothesis, that less inexpensive brands may not contain Ginkgo.

Poster:

Team samples: