![]() The knowledge held by experienced taxonomists is not being passed on to younger recruits. Preservation of specimens in natural history collections is chronically neglected and support to study and manage collections is very insufficient. Present and future knowledge of the complexities and diversity of the biosphere depends on the integrity of taxonomic resources, vet widespread ignorance and disregard for their fundamental value has created a global crisis. These collections and the human expertise essential to interpret specimens are the taxonomic resources which maintain accurate and verifiable concepts of biological entities. The preservation of specimens in natural history collections is the essential part of the process which builds and maintains biological knowledge. ![]() Such knowledge is essential to decide how much and what biodiversity survives human onslaughts. This knowledge is built of interrelated concepts which are ultimately accounted for by biological specimens. Systematics and taxonomy are essential: they respectively elucidate life's history, and organize and verify biological knowledge. Its assembly will also generate important new insights into the diversification of life and the rules of molecular evolution. When fully developed, a COI identification system will provide a reliable, cost-effective and accessible solution to the current problem of species identification. A model COI profile, based upon the analysis of a single individual from each of 200 closely allied species of lepidopterans, was 100% successful in correctly identifying subsequent specimens. Second, we demonstrate that species-level assignments can be obtained by creating comprehensive COI profiles. First, we demonstrate that COI profiles, derived from the low-density sampling of higher taxonomic categories, ordinarily assign newly analysed taxa to the appropriate phylum or order. ![]() We establish that the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) can serve as the core of a global bioidentification system for animals. We are convinced that the sole prospect for a sustainable identification capability lies in the construction of systems that employ DNA sequences as taxon 'barcodes'. Although much biological research depends upon species diagnoses, taxonomic expertise is collapsing.
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