Just as products in the shopping malls are identified by a bar code, scientists have dreamed of the possibility of a similar method to identify the thousands of species on the planet.
This dream became reality when it was discovered that a segment of DNA from each organism can identify the species to which it belongs. In 2003, the Barcode of Life Initiative  (BOLI) was organized. Since 2004, more than 130 organizations from 43 countries have met to establish the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL).
One of the main advantages of identification using the bar code is that DNA can be obtained from hair, feathers, bones and other parts of tissue without harming the individual.
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