Overview

The Japanese Barcode of Life Initiative (JBOLI)

The Japanese Barcode of Life Initiative (JBOLI) is a project to provide information on and support for activities relevant to DNA barcoding in Japan, through collaboration with the Japan National Node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Background

After several years since the concept of DNA barcoding was proposed and the “Barcode of Life” project was launched, the DNA barcoding projects are growing more and more. In 2010, the international Barcode of Life (iBOL), a global and large-scale barcoding project was launched to establish an identification supporting system using DNA barcode data. Until now, more than one million barcodes data have been available.

In accordance with the progress of international DNA barcoding projects, Japanese researchers have been attracted their attention for the DNA barcoding. Nevertheless, DNA barcoding still has not been paid enough attention in Japan mainly because of the lack of information written in Japanese. Moreover, there was no platform for collaboration among barcoding-related activities in Japan, a community network of researchers and officers and those interested in the DNA barcoding. In 2007, JBOLI has been launched to facilitate DNA barcoding in Japan.

Activities

  1. Promotion of DNA barcoding. We provide the overview, current status, and news of DNA barcoding, and the information of relevant projects through this website and our Twitter account (@JBOLI, in Japanese). We also provide original or translated leaflets, and articles for journals. In addition, we also organize symposia and workshops on the DNA barcoding at conferences and meetings of relevant societies. The up-to-date information on DNA barcoding and JBOLI activities are also provided by a twitter account (@JBOLI, in Japanese).
  2. Instructions for DNA barcoding. We provide protocols (protocols for DNA extraction, information of PCR primers and thermal conditions, workflow of data upload to databases, preparation of voucher specimens etc…) required to conduct barcoding works. Technical and theological updates for barcoding are introduced in this website.
  3. Construction of information system. An easy-to-use system with Japanese interface plays a key role for the growth of DNA barcoding community, because it serves needs for potential users in Japan. In cooperation with the GBIF Japan National Node, we are developing an information system for DNA barcoding and an identification supporting service.
  4. Collaboration between relevant activities in Japan and iBOL / CBOL. Japan has currently participated in the international Barcode of Life project (iBOL). Accordingly, the JBOLI will contribute to the establishment of global DNA barcode library as a member of Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) by supporting relevant projects in Japan.

Support

JBOLI activities are supported by the Japan National Node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), which is conducted within the framework of the National BioResource Project (NBRP) and initiated by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

The GBIF Japan National Node also provides a species identification system at the website (http://bol.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/index.jsp, in Japanese).

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