DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy

DNA barcoding is a molecular technology that allows the identification of any biological species by amplifying, sequencing and querying the information from genic and/or intergenic standardized target regions belonging to the extranuclear genomes. Although these sequences represent a small fraction...

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Main Authors: Gianni Barcaccia, Margherita Lucchin, Martino Cassandro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2015-12-01
Series:Diversity
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/1/2
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author Gianni Barcaccia
Margherita Lucchin
Martino Cassandro
author_facet Gianni Barcaccia
Margherita Lucchin
Martino Cassandro
author_sort Gianni Barcaccia
collection DOAJ
description DNA barcoding is a molecular technology that allows the identification of any biological species by amplifying, sequencing and querying the information from genic and/or intergenic standardized target regions belonging to the extranuclear genomes. Although these sequences represent a small fraction of the total DNA of a cell, both chloroplast and mitochondrial barcodes chosen for identifying plant and animal species, respectively, have shown sufficient nucleotide diversity to assess the taxonomic identity of the vast majority of organisms used in agriculture. Consequently, cpDNA and mtDNA barcoding protocols are being used more and more in the food industry and food supply chains for food labeling, not only to support food safety but also to uncover food piracy in freshly commercialized and technologically processed products. Since the extranuclear genomes are present in many copies within each cell, this technology is being more easily exploited to recover information even in degraded samples or transformed materials deriving from crop varieties and livestock species. The strong standardization that characterizes protocols used worldwide for DNA barcoding makes this technology particularly suitable for routine analyses required by agencies to safeguard food safety and quality. Here we conduct a critical review of the potentials of DNA barcoding for food labeling along with the main findings in the area of food piracy, with particular reference to agrifood and livestock foodstuffs.
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spelling doaj.art-ffd668cd3d5440d69ae5775afb75999a2022-12-22T04:24:16ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182015-12-0181210.3390/d8010002d8010002DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food PiracyGianni Barcaccia0Margherita Lucchin1Martino Cassandro2Laboratorio di Genomica, LabGEN c/o DAFNAE—Università di Padova, Via Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyLaboratorio di Genomica, LabGEN c/o DAFNAE—Università di Padova, Via Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyLaboratorio di Genomica, LabGEN c/o DAFNAE—Università di Padova, Via Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDNA barcoding is a molecular technology that allows the identification of any biological species by amplifying, sequencing and querying the information from genic and/or intergenic standardized target regions belonging to the extranuclear genomes. Although these sequences represent a small fraction of the total DNA of a cell, both chloroplast and mitochondrial barcodes chosen for identifying plant and animal species, respectively, have shown sufficient nucleotide diversity to assess the taxonomic identity of the vast majority of organisms used in agriculture. Consequently, cpDNA and mtDNA barcoding protocols are being used more and more in the food industry and food supply chains for food labeling, not only to support food safety but also to uncover food piracy in freshly commercialized and technologically processed products. Since the extranuclear genomes are present in many copies within each cell, this technology is being more easily exploited to recover information even in degraded samples or transformed materials deriving from crop varieties and livestock species. The strong standardization that characterizes protocols used worldwide for DNA barcoding makes this technology particularly suitable for routine analyses required by agencies to safeguard food safety and quality. Here we conduct a critical review of the potentials of DNA barcoding for food labeling along with the main findings in the area of food piracy, with particular reference to agrifood and livestock foodstuffs.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/1/2cpDNA barcodingmtDNA barcodinggenetic traceabilityfoodstuffs
spellingShingle Gianni Barcaccia
Margherita Lucchin
Martino Cassandro
DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
Diversity
cpDNA barcoding
mtDNA barcoding
genetic traceability
foodstuffs
title DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
title_full DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
title_fullStr DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
title_full_unstemmed DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
title_short DNA Barcoding as a Molecular Tool to Track Down Mislabeling and Food Piracy
title_sort dna barcoding as a molecular tool to track down mislabeling and food piracy
topic cpDNA barcoding
mtDNA barcoding
genetic traceability
foodstuffs
url http://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/8/1/2
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