Binomial Nomenclature List

Introduction to Binomial nomenclature

The species concept: Species is recognized as the smallest unit of taxonomy or the basic unit of classification. In simpler form every different and recognizable type of organism (animal, plant or microbe) is a different species. In scientific terms, a species could be defined as a group of closely resembling organisms of the same type, in which members can interbreed freely and naturally to produce viable and fertile offspring, whereas they cannot interbreed freely or produce viable and fertile offspring with members outside the group.

Binomial nomenclature

Binomial nomenclature is the scientific method of giving names to every species of living organism. Carolos Linnaeus first introduced it in 1758. In this method every species of organism is given a name consisting of two words. The first word would refer to the name of the genus to which the organism belongs in the existing system of classification. Therefore this is known as the generic name. The second word in the name is called the specific name, since it refers to the exact species to which the organism belongs.

Rules to be followed in giving scientific names to plants and animals on the basis of binomial nomenclature

• The name must consist of two words both in Latin and in other languages in Latinized form.
• The first word should refer to the genus to which the organism belongs and it should start with capital letter.
• The second word should refer to the species to which the organism belongs and it starts with a small letter.
• Names derived by binomial nomenclature should also include reference in abbreviation to the name this is known as author citation.
• The generic and specific names when printed must be in italics and when written otherwise must be separately underlined, indicating their Latin origin. Author citation is not in italics nor is it underlined.
• When the same organism is given more than one scientific name by different authors, the earlier name becomes accepted.
• These rules are framed and presented as International Code for botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) for plants and as International Code for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals. They are periodically reviewed and revised by specific committees.
  
  

Advantages of binomial nomenclature

• Names derived from binomial nomenclature gives universal reorganization to the organism.
• Scientific name avoid confusion arising out of the same organism having different common names in different origins of the world.e.g. For brinjal in India (Solanum melongena) is called egg plant in western countries.
• Using binomial nomenclature system automatically establishes taxonomic interrelationships between different taxa.
• Addition of new information, acquiring rare information, exchange of resource materials, and exchange of information etc., become easy when universally accepted scientific names are used.