Consider the following statements : DNA Barcoding can be a tool to: 1. assess the age of a plant or animal. 2. distinguish among species that look alike. 3. identify undesirable animal or plant materials in processed foods. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The question asks about the correct applications of DNA Barcoding among the given options. 2. Statement 2: DNA Barcoding uses specific, short, standardized gene sequences to identify species. It is not a method used to assess the age of a plant or animal. Age determination typically relies on other biological or physical markers. Thus, statement 2 is incorrect. 3. Statement 3: One of the primary strengths of DNA Barcoding is its ability to distinguish among species that look alike (cryptic species) based on differences in their barcode sequences, even when morphological identification is difficult. Thus, statement 3 is correct. 4. Statement 4: DNA Barcoding can be applied to identify the species origin of biological materials found in processed foods. This allows for the detection of contamination, substitution, or the presence of undesirable animal or plant materials. Thus, statement 4 is correct. 5. Since statements 3 and 4 describe correct applications, the correct option is (D).