Final answer:
The UPC (Universal Product Code) is the technology introduced in the book that is widely used by retail stores for automating checkout, price changes, and inventory maintenance. It serves a similar role to DNA barcoding for living organisms, anticipated to help identify species in the wild by 2030.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technology introduced in the book and widely used by retail stores to automate the processes to check out customers, to change product prices, and to maintain inventory records is the UPC (Universal Product Code). Retail stores across the globe use UPC barcodes to streamline these processes. The UPC barcode is standardized for tracking trade items in stores and is crucial in the sales and inventory process.
Comparing DNA barcoding to UPC barcodes can indeed help in understanding the concept. Much like the UPC serves as a unique identifier for products in a retail context, DNA barcodes serve as unique identifiers for living organisms. Dr. Hebert's vision for 2030 is that similar to using UPC barcodes for products, handheld barcoders could potentially be used to instantly identify plant and animal species in the wild, by analyzing their DNA.