Binomial nomenclature

Killerwhales jumping

Starr 070320-5799 Echinopsis pachanoi

Carl von Linné

E coli at 10000x, original

Petirrojo (Erithacus rubecula superbus ) (6178023045)

Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, though they can be based on words from other languages. This system is called "binomial" because "bi-" means two and "nomial" means pertaining to names. Binomial nomenclature is also known as binary nomenclature or binominal nomenclature. It is the system used in the Linnaean taxonomy for the naming of organisms.

History

The concept of binomial nomenclature was first introduced by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753 and later applied to all kinds of organisms in his Systema Naturae (10th edition, 1758). Linnaeus's system for naming species broke with the traditional practice of using long, descriptive phrases and instead used a simpler two-part name. The first part of the name identifies the genus to which the species belongs, while the second part, the specific name, identifies the species within the genus. For example, the binomial name for humans is Homo sapiens, where Homo is the genus and sapiens is the species.

Components

The first part of a binomial name, the genus name, is always capitalized and italicized. The second part, the specific epithet, is not capitalized but is also italicized. Together, these two parts form the species name. It is important to note that the specific epithet on its own is not an identifier, as it can be repeated in different genera.

Rules and Conventions

The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) govern the rules and conventions of binomial nomenclature. These rules include:

• The name must be in Latin or Latinized form.
• The name should be unique within a kingdom.
• The genus name must be a noun and the specific epithet can be a noun or an adjective.
• The names are italicized or underlined when handwritten.

Importance

Binomial nomenclature provides a universal language for scientists around the world, which is crucial for the accurate identification and classification of organisms. It helps avoid the confusion that common names can cause, as a single species might have several common names or a common name might be used for multiple species. The system also indicates the relationships between species, as organisms within the same genus are more closely related to each other than to species in other genera.

Examples

• Canis lupus - the gray wolf
• Escherichia coli - a bacterium found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms
• Quercus robur - the common oak

See Also

• Taxonomy
• Species
• Genus
• International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
• International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants

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