bar code
- noun
- /bɑr koʊd/
- Specialized
:
código de barras
- Scientists often use a DNA bar code to identify different species based on their genetic material.
Examples
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By comparing the bar codes from various plant samples, the team could determine their genetic relationships.
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Each organism in the study was assigned a unique bar code that helped researchers distinguish between them.
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And a bar code.
Fiction book (2002) -
Each synthetic step along the way is marked by adding another DNA sequence to the tag, so (in theory) every compound in the collection ends up with a unique oligonucleotide "bar code" attached to it.
Blog text (21)
Synonyms
8
4.3
A small piece of DNA on a chromosome that scientists use to identify people and follow traits in families
How Informative
Surface Forms
Morphology
The term builds directly from 'bar' (a stripe) + 'code' (an identifying label): a barcode is an identifying code represented by bars, so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes an identifying marker. The DNA usage is a metaphorical extension of the same identifying-code concept but remains compositionally transparent and cross-linguistically recognizable.
Etymology
The noun bar code for DNA came later when scientists borrowed the idea from shop bar codes. They called a short piece of DNA a bar code because it works like a simple label to 'identify' a species.