Viet Nam possesses abundant marine biological resources, with one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the Indo-Pacific region. Marine ecosystems in the country are estimated to contain around 11,000-12,000 species, including numerous groups of invertebrates such as sponges, echinoderms and molluscs. These biological resources hold considerable potential, containing natural compounds of value for pharmaceuticals, materials science and marine biotechnology.
Accordingly, the development of a DNA database for marine organisms would not only support species identification and biodiversity research, but also provide a vital data foundation for interdisciplinary research directions, carrying strategic significance for the long-term development of marine science and technology.
According to scientists at the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, marine biological research in Viet Nam has achieved numerous positive outcomes over recent decades, particularly in the chemistry of natural compounds. However, accurate species identification remains a major challenge because many species share similar morphological characteristics and are difficult to distinguish using traditional methods.
Molecular biology tools, particularly molecular taxonomy based on DNA barcoding, have become effective methods for supporting species identification and biodiversity studies. Molecular taxonomy is a method of species identification based on species-specific DNA sequences, or DNA barcodes. The development of DNA barcodes and reference databases for marine organisms plays an important role in the rapid assessment of biodiversity, supporting the identification of difficult-to-distinguish species or incomplete specimens, as well as identifying organisms at every stage of development, including larvae. This method also contributes to improving conservation efficiency, monitoring invasive species and ensuring the authenticity of marine biological resources.
At present, many countries around the world are implementing large-scale programmes to establish global DNA barcode libraries for living organisms. These databases are regarded as important biological data infrastructure serving biodiversity research, resource management and the development of science and technology. In line with this trend, the construction of a DNA database for marine organisms in Viet Nam would not only support taxonomy and biodiversity assessment, but also provide a foundation for research into natural compounds and marine genetic resources.
In response to these practical requirements, the science and technology project entitled “Research on building a DNA database for several valuable groups of marine invertebrates (sponges, echinoderms and molluscs) in Viet Nam’s seas” has been carried out during the 2023-2025 period at the Institute of Chemistry under the leadership of Dr Tran My Linh. This is one of the first systematic and methodically implemented studies focusing on three valuable groups of marine invertebrates in Viet Nam.
According to Dr Tran My Linh, a DNA barcode database has, for the first time, been established for 109 species belonging to the sponge, echinoderm and mollusc groups, with sequences verified through the close integration of morphological characteristics and genetic data. All characteristic sequences have been registered with international databases such as National Centre for Biotechnology Information and Barcode of Life Data Systems, and have been assigned Barcode Index Numbers (BINs).
Notably, each species has at least one identified characteristic DNA sequence, including several species for which reference data have been added to international systems for the first time. At the same time, the research team has developed an online database at dnabien.vn, providing information on DNA barcodes, morphological characteristics and sampling locations through a bilingual Vietnamese-English interface.
A noteworthy innovation of the project is the expansion of research into sequencing and transcriptome analysis for several marine species with potential applications in the biomedical sector. The research findings have been published in both domestic and international scientific journals, contributing to enhancing the presence of Vietnamese marine biological data within the global scientific community.
According to experts, the research outcomes demonstrate the important role of fundamental research in establishing scientific data platforms to support future technological development. Although DNA barcoding is not an especially complex core technology, DNA data from indigenous organisms and biological barcode libraries constitute a strategic long-term data resource. They may be regarded as a form of national biological data infrastructure serving biodiversity research, biological resource management and the development of scientific and technological sectors related to marine resources.
These initial achievements have contributed to building a solid scientific foundation to support the future development of Viet Nam’s marine science and technology.
