Discovering New Species Leader - Juan Grados

Juan Grados is a Peruvian with a Master degree in entomologist from the Universidad Nacional Agraria in Lima. With 20 years of experience and a specialist in the study of Arctiinae (Lepidoptera) of the Neotropical Region, more than 35 scientific publications and extensive scientific exploration throughout different Peruvian ecosystems.

Juan Grados is interested on the study of Systematics, Biogeography and Evolution of Arctiinae, has led him to visit and collaborate with the main Natural History Museums around the world such as the Smithsonian, ANHM, Harvard University Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Museum für Naturkunde and the British Museum of Natural History among others.

Discovering New Species - Barcode Tambopata

Methods

DNA barcoding is a taxonomic method that uses a short genetic marker in an organism's DNA to identify it as belonging to a particular species. Applications include identifying cryptic species which are too similar to be identified by humans like: plant leaves when flowers or fruit are not available, identifying insect larvae (which may have fewer diagnostic characters than adults and are frequently less well-known), identifying the diet of an animal, based on its stomach contents or scats, and, identifying products in commerce (for example, herbal supplements, wood, or skins and other animal parts).

In Tambopata we are using Genetic Barcoding to catalog the spectacular Tiger Moth family at Refugio Amazonas study area, and results have unveiled so far an average of about one new species a month. Join us and discover your own!

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