Quack medicines: In 2012, researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada used DNA barcoding to analyze the ingredients of 44 traditional Chinese medicines. They found that 20% of the products contained undeclared ingredients, including endangered species such as the snow leopard and Tibetan antelope.

Insect immigrants: DNA barcoding has also been used to track the spread of invasive insect species. For example, researchers at the University of California, Berkeley used DNA barcoding to identify the source of an infestation of emerald ash borer beetles that was killing ash trees in the Midwest. They found that the beetles had come from China.

What eats what: DNA barcoding has also been used to study the diets of animals. For example, researchers at the University of Alaska Fairbanks used DNA barcoding to analyze the stomach contents of Arctic cod. They found that the cod were eating a variety of prey, including fish, shrimp, and krill.

These are just a few examples of how DNA barcoding is being used to reveal secrets about the natural world. As the cost of DNA sequencing continues to decline, we can expect to see even more applications for this powerful tool.