Introduction to DNA Surveillance

What is DNA Surveillance?

DNA Surveillance is a service for determining the species identity of unknown specimens and samples using phylogenetic methods. DNA Surveillance aligns a user-submitted DNA sequence against an alignment of reference DNA sequences and then builds a phylogenetic tree. The user can then make inferences about the species identity of the unknown from its position on the phylogenetic tree.

DNA Surveillance was first implemented using a reference set of mtDNA sequences from whales, dolphins and porpoises. The rationale for this phylogenetic approach was published in:

Ross, H. A., G. M. Lento, M. L. Dalebout, M. Goode, G. Ewing, P. McLaren, A. G. Rodrigo, S. Lavery, and C. S. Baker. (2003) DNA Surveillance: Web-based molecular identification of whales, dolphins and porpoises. Journal of Heredity 94(2): 111-114. (full text)

How do I use DNA Surveillance?

Each section of DNA Surveillance is devoted to a different taxonomic group. In general, you copy a DNA sequence, determined for the appropriate genomic region, and paste it into the Search query window. Then you select the reference alignment or database that you wish to use and click the Submit button. The DNA Surveillance system will compute a phylogenetic (evolutionary) tree including your unknown sequence and the reference sequences and will display it onscreen. You will then be able to decide which group your unknown belongs to by examining the other taxa in the same clade as the unknown.

Be sure to read the specific documentation for the taxonomic group you are investigating to determine which specific genomic regions are used. Also, the reference alignments may offer different levels of resolution (i.e., family or species membership).

Participation Invited

DNA Surveillance differs from other methods of molecular genetic identification through the combined use of curated reference sequence alignments and phylogenetic analyses. In this way taxonomic specialists can select the appropriate genomic regions and reference sequences which allow the best discrimination among species. Please contact us if you are interested in establishing an implementation of DNA Surveillance for a taxonomic group not currently represented on our site. You will have full control and responsibility for the curation and annotation of the reference sequence alignments for the taxonomic group.

Where can I find my species of interest?

If you would like to use phylogenetic methods to identify specimens in a particular group but you cannot find that group in our list, you might consider undertaking the curation yourself. Or, you could approach experts in the taxonomic group to establish a reference alignment.

Contact

Email: dna-surveillance@auckland.ac.nz

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