BLAST and BOLD are two genetic tools that allow us to learn about a species from a sample of DNA.
BLAST is best for identifying a species from sequence of DNA, and for finding similar, related species. By submitting a sequence into the database, BLAST will give a list of candidates for the result. The higher on the list a species is, the closer a match it is.
BLAST RESULT:
BOLD works in a similar way, by entering a DNA sequence into the database, but it specializes in providing taxonomic information (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species). It gives results using other samples that were previously barcoded. In addition, BOLD provides a family tree; it compares your specimen, which is highlighted in red, to other closely related ones.
BOLD Family Tree
BOLD - http://www.boldsystems.org/index.php/resources/handbook?chapter=2_databases.html§ion=tax_browser