Congratulations to our client BHP and our Biologic Seed team for winning the prestigious Golden Gecko Award for 2025!
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Environmental DNA (eDNA) has almost limitless potential to provide high quality survey and monitoring data for our clients. However, there are challenges.
Environmental DNA relies on the availability of DNA sequence data to design assays and create comparative sequence libraries. DNA sequence data is also useful for DNA barcoding – that is, using a standard DNA fragment for species identification and discovery.
The primary challenge is the availability of DNA sequence data. Unfortunately, most species are not yet sequenced and many sequences are stored in private databases, meaning they are inaccessible on public databases such as GenBank.
Biologic’s DNA Barcode Library is vast: since 2020, we have sequenced over eight thousand specimens of arachnids, insects, crustaceans, worms, reptiles and mammals.
These sequences have been essential to providing comprehensive survey and monitoring data for our clients, understanding species’ distributions and discovering new species.
Our DNA Barcode Library is also high quality. A crucial element of building these libraries is the purification of high-quality DNA from tissues.
This starts in the field, and Biologic’s experienced field teams have developed standard operating procedures to maximise the quality and quantity of DNA in specimens.
Our laboratory staff maintain high standards to minimise contamination and maximise the amplification of on- target DNA, with a sequencing success rate of almost 90% for specimens where Biologic has been responsible for the entire field collection to sequencing workflow (n=7.3k specimens).
Our philosophy is one of collaboration.
Of these sequences, we have made almost 30% publicly available on GenBank, with data released as projects are completed. Records are updated on GenBank as identifications are refined and specimens are accessioned in museums. We are also working with the WA Museum to assist in the GenBank accessioning of legacy barcode datasets from their collections.
These barcode sequences have been used in numerous eDNA studies to design assays or in comparative sequence libraries. The continual release of these data will grow the utility of eDNA to support environmental surveys.
Over time, both public and private DNA barcode libraries will expand to meet the potential of DNA sequencing technology. In the meantime, Biologic is proud to offer clients a world-class database to leverage, whilst also contributing to collectively-held public knowledge.
