UK Barcode of Life

UKBOL brings together UK government agencies, biodiversity institutions, and scientists to build a comprehensive DNA barcode reference library covering all ~75,000 eukaryote species found in the United Kingdom.

DNA barcoding enables species identification from any tissue type, at any life stage — including bulk samples and environmental DNA (eDNA). Reference barcodes are linked to expertly identified voucher specimens in scientific collections, with data openly accessible via BOLD.

UKBOL is an integrated part of the International Barcode of Life Project (iBOL) and works closely with the Darwin Tree of Life project (DToL). To get involved, contact us at ukbol@nhm.ac.uk.