Scientists to create modern Noah's Ark

The aim is to have a record of genetic sequences that identify every one of the estimated ten million species of plants and animals by 2010.

Many extinct species may also be barcoded using DNA from museum specimens.

Less than a fifth of the Earth’s flora and fauna have been named by scientists.

The task of identifying and describing the vast array of known and unknown species on the planet is a massive one, but vital to scientific research.

The project is being co-ordinated by the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, which will bring together experts from fields such as taxonomy - the classification of living organisms - and information management.

Scott Miller, chairman of the organisation, said at a news conference at the Natural History Museum in London: "DNA barcoding will make a huge difference to our knowledge and understanding of the natural world."

DNA barcodes will make species recognition in the field much easier, especially where traditional methods are not practical.

They will also give non- specialists an easy way to make identifications and provide access to detailed species information.

Identification will become more reliable. DNA analysis has already forced experts to re-think classifications of some species previously identified by physical characteristics.

As well as improving understanding of life’s evolutionary history, the collected information will help conservation efforts and aid the fight against infectious diseases and pests.

Dr Richard Lane, director of science at the Natural History Museum, said: "If we don’t know what species we have, how can we know what we’re losing and take practical steps to stem the loss of the world’s plants and animals?

"Just as the human genome project inspired new ways of human biological research, we hope that barcoding DNA will lead to new ways of investigating ecology and evolution that can be of use to all."

It may also be possible to archive barcodes of extinct animals by taking DNA from museum specimens, said Dr Lane.

Scientists are looking at new ways of repairing extracted DNA so that it can be used for identification.