DNA barcoding is a technique for characterizing tissues, species and organisms based on genomic variations. Current efforts to barcode different sources of living materials are based on short DNA sequences from well characterized regions of the genome (such as the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial region (COI)) as the standard barcode region for higher animals.

A powerful barcoding method would be applicable to a far wider range of species and life forms. The Functional Genomic Fingerprinting (FGF) technique is robust and produces a barcode that represents a wider range of the genome based specifically on the functional regions of the genome. Since the functional regions of a genome are highly specific to different life forms, FGF barcoding can significantly improve barcode specificity, and ensure reliable identification in different organisms.

Barcoding technique are generally used in identifying:

• Identify disease vectors, agricultural pests, and invasives
• Identify environmental indicators and protected species
• Characterize tissue samples, damaged specimens, gut contents, and droppings
• Uncover associations among all life history stages
• Reveal gender and gender associated traits
• Precisely determine species boundaries and find new variants
• Flag potential new species when used as a “triage” tool for undescribed and cryptic species