Sorry, your browser does not support iframes.
Skip to this page's content
National Geographic Society
P.O. Box 98199
Washington
,
DC
20090-8199
USA
38.90531943278526
,
-77.0376992225647
800-647-5463
Inspiring people to care about the planet since 1888
Learn More »
Search National Geographic
Search
nationalgeographic.com
Site
Video
Submit
Connect With Us
Main Navigation
Home
Daily News
The Magazine
Maps
Science
Education
Games
Events
Blogs
Movies
Explorers
Mobile
Trips
Video
Video Home
Nat Geo TV
Nat Geo Wild
Animals
Kids
News
More
Photography
Photography Home
Photo of the Day
Galleries
Wallpapers
Photo Tips
Photographers
Buy Prints
Video
Newsletters
Animals
Animals Home
Facts
Photos
Video
Animal Conservation
Wild TV Schedule
WILD TV-Show Previews
TV Blogs
Environment
Environment Home
Energy
Freshwater
Global Warming
Habitats
Natural Disasters
The Ocean
The Green Guide
Newsletters
Travel
Travel Home
Top 10
Destinations A-Z
Trip Ideas
Blog
Traveler Magazine
Photos
Video
Favorites
Our Trips
Newsletters
Adventure
Adventure Home
Gear
Ultimate Adventurers
Trip Ideas
Parks
Photos
Video
Blog
Nat Geo Trips
AllTrails
Newsletters
NatGeoTV
NGC Home
TV Schedule
NGC Videos
Games
Mobile
TV Blogs
Kids
Kids Home
Games
Videos
Animals & Pets
Photos
Countries
Fun Stuff
Community
News
Animal Jam
Little Kids
Shop
Store Home
Gift Finder
Channel Shop
Kids Shop
Shop by Catalog
Shop by Theme
Genographic Kits
Sale Items
Email Signup
Current Issue
June 2012
Table of Contents »
HOME
FIELD TEST
FEATURES
PHOTOGRAPHY
YOUR SHOT
MY SHOT
VIDEO
NOW | NEXT
PUZZLES
ARCHIVES
SUBSCRIBE
Big Idea: Scanning Life
|
Photo Gallery
- ADVERTISEMENT -
Sorry, your browser does not support iframes.
The Big Idea
Life would be simpler if all species wore name tags. And in a way, they do. Turns out they’ve got a bar code in their DNA.
/2010/05/big-idea/img/01-muskox-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-01.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Ovibos moschatus]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309735
/2010/05/big-idea/img/02-hermit-crab-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-02.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Coenobita sp.]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1213241
/2010/05/big-idea/img/03-eyelash-viper-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-03.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Bothriechis schlegelii]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1275459
/2010/05/big-idea/img/04-screech-owl-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-04.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Megascops asio]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1031752
/2010/05/big-idea/img/05-moon-jellies-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-05.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Aurelia aurita]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309760
/2010/05/big-idea/img/06-katydid-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-06.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Orchelimum sp.]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309741
/2010/05/big-idea/img/07-jungle-nymph-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-07.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Heteropteryx dilatata
]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309740
/2010/05/big-idea/img/08-hedgehog-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-08.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Atelerix albiventris]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309736
/2010/05/big-idea/img/09-african-elephant-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-09.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Loxodonta africana]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1275458
/2010/05/big-idea/img/10-swallowtail-butterfly-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-10.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Papilio polyxenes]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1099318
/2010/05/big-idea/img/11-mossy-frog-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-11.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Theloderma corticale]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309739
/2010/05/big-idea/img/12-lion-tamarin-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-12.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Leontopithecus rosalia]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309738
/2010/05/big-idea/img/13-bongo-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-13.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Tragelaphus eurycerus]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309730
/2010/05/big-idea/img/14-scrub-millipede-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-14.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Floridobolus penneri]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309759
/2010/05/big-idea/img/15-skink-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-15.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Plestiodon sp.]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309732
/2010/05/big-idea/img/16-pallid-bat-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-16.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Antrozous pallidus]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309763
/2010/05/big-idea/img/17-black-lemur-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-17.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Eulemur macaco]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1096352
/2010/05/big-idea/img/18-leaf-frog-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-18.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Hylomantis lemur]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1172974
/2010/05/big-idea/img/19-chameleon-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-19.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Furcifer pardalis]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309734
/2010/05/big-idea/img/20-cockatoo-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-20.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Probosciger aterrimus]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1027806
/2010/05/big-idea/img/21-green-tree-python-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-21.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Morelia viridis]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309737
/2010/05/big-idea/img/22-hawk-moth-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-22.jpg
Photograph by Biodiversity Institute of Ontario
Hippotion celerio]]>
/2010/05/big-idea/img/23-turtle-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-23.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Eretmochelys imbricata]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309731
/2010/05/big-idea/img/24-coyote-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-24.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Canis latrans]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309758
/2010/05/big-idea/img/25-greenbul-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-25.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Andropadus virens]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1184786
/2010/05/big-idea/img/26-tiger-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-26.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Panthera tigris]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309762
/2010/05/big-idea/img/27-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-27.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Tamandua tetradactyla]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309761
/2010/05/big-idea/img/28-714.jpg
/2010/05/big-idea/img/big-idea-60-28.jpg
Photograph by Joel Sartore
Tolypeutes matacus]]>
http://national-geographic.cafepress.com/art/s_1309733