{
  "id": 3529268,
  "title": "Nanopore sequencing of nested nrDNA barcodes reliably identifies orchid bees (Euglossini, Apidae)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/nanopore-sequencing-of-nested-nrdna-barcodes-reliably-identifies",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.25.747120v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nanopore sequencing of overlapping nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) markers has been shown to effectively identify orchid bees (Euglossini, Apidae) with high accuracy. This innovative approach addresses the limitations of using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) marker, which lacks uniform resolution across bee lineages. Researchers developed an adaptive-length framework that accommodates varying specimen quality and preservation histories by tailoring barcode lengths to individual samples. Validation using the IDTAXA software demonstrated that longer barcodes achieved over 96% identification success, while shorter barcodes performed less optimally. By combining multiple barcode lengths within a single reference library, the study successfully maintained high identification accuracy even when target species were absent from the database. This method not only offers a cost-effective solution for high-throughput identification in orchid bees but also provides a general framework for constructing long-read reference libraries across diverse taxonomic groups. Further testing is required to assess its applicability to other insect lineages.",
  "summary": "Orchid bees (Euglossini, Apidae) are Neotropical insects whose species-level identification can depend on minute morphological characters, some difficult to see or analyze. In such cases, DNA barcoding may facilitate identification by comparing standardized DNA sequences with reference libraries. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) marker widely used in animals does not, however,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}