South Australian Museum - North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5000

Discover the science of DNA barcoding and how it is being used to catalogue the world's vast – and threatened – biodiversity.

The Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) presents a jewelled representation of reality that draws you in for a closer look. Things are not always as they seem; the closer you are, the harder the specimen is to discern, but the textual representation of the DNA barcode that represents the unique species becomes apparent. Bring your smartphone to read the QR codes and learn more about the cryptic species revealed by this new genetic tool. 

Seattle-based glass/multimedia artist Joseph Rossano's BOLD series is inspired by his collaboration with Professor Daniel Janzen, Dr Winnie Hallwachs, University of Pennsylvania; Professor Paul Hebert, University of Guelph; and Dr John Burns, Smithsonian Institution. 

Rossano brings us this BOLD display with the support of the Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (Costa Rica), The International Barcode of Life, and Ontario Genomics Institute.

BOLD at the South Australian Museum coincides with the 4th International Barcode of Life Conference hosted at the University of Adelaide from 28 November to 3 December 2011.