Chinese institute collects DNA of 302 amphibian species

Beijing: A zoology institute in southwestern China has collected DNA samples of 302 species of Chinese amphibians to study the endangered species free of cost and has uploaded them on a website for herpetologists.

The website, developed by Kunming Institute of Zoology in Yunnan province under Chinese Academy of Sciences, provides information of Chinese amphibians to herpetologists and the public alike, Che Jing, researcher with the institute said.

Currently, the data of DNA barcodes of 302 species of Chinese amphibians which are listed on the website.

"The DNA barcodes of the all 429 Chinese amphibian species will be covered within two years," Che said.

DNA barcoding, initially proposed by Paul Hebert in 2003, is a way to identify species by a short genetic marker.

The website will also apply free DNA sequencing service for endangered species, Che said.

The technology has been adopted in fields such as species identification and biological medicine, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.