Technical Note: Rapid Species Barcoding Using Bento Lab Mobile Laboratory

In scenarios when the morphological identification of samples is not feasible, the utilization of molecular analyses becomes an imperative. However, that can often be challenging in conditions where standard molecular laboratories cannot be established. In this study, we present a simplified and field-friendly protocol of the previously published Triplex PCR Assay for the identification of mammalian and plant sample origin using a fully portable molecular laboratory from Bento Lab (Bento Bioworks Ltd., London, UK), effectively eliminating the need for a traditional laboratory setup. The protocol in combination with correctly selected kits enables DNA extraction, result evaluation based on electrophoresis, and direct use of the PCR products for downstream analyses such as Sanger sequencing and third-generation sequencing; therefore, enabling the use of molecular analysis directly in situ or for educational purposes in a classroom.