Taxonomy and Nomenclature

Taxonomy and nomenclature are some of the essential concepts of science. These terms are used repeatedly by scientists and science students alike. But what exactly do these words mean? Taxonomic nomenclature is one of the remarkable frameworks that help us understand the world around us. We will look at what it is, its applications in science, and how you could learn about it.

Taxonomy is the science dealing with identifying, naming, and classifying organisms. The word taxonomy comes from Greek “τάξις” (taxis), meaning “arrangement” or “order” and “νομος” (nomos) meaning “law” or “science”.

What is taxonomy?

Taxonomy is the process of categorising and naming organisms for science. Taxonomy and nomenclature are associated concepts. The word nomenclature refers to a system of naming and classification. Taxonomy is a subfield of systematics and a branch of biology. Taxonomy divides organisms into categories and gives them scientific names. It is also used for the identification of organisms.

Why do we need taxonomy? How does taxonomy help science? How is taxonomy important for Biology?

From a medical perspective, taxonomy is a very significant set of information. We can better control diseases if we have a proper taxonomic nomenclature and taxonomy code. For example, many diseases are named or classified based on the symptoms. It might result in two different diseases with similar symptoms, and hence, the name and the treatment may be different. Having a proper taxonomic nomenclature helps us develop better and more efficient treatments for diseases.

What is Nomenclature?

Nomenclature refers to the naming of biological organisms. Understanding the importance of nomenclature is crucial to understanding what taxonomy is. Taxonomy and nomenclature are indispensable in biology because they allow us to organise species. Taxonomy and nomenclature also enable biologists to communicate effectively.

Why are taxonomic categories important?

Organisms are classified into a hierarchy of ranks. The taxonomic ranks are most commonly (from the top) domain, kingdom, phylum/division( for plant), class, order, family, genus, and species. For example, humans are in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Primates, Family Hominidae, Genus Homo, and species Sapiens. It is a field of biology and a branch of systematics. Scientists who work on this are known as taxonomists. 

The organisation of the taxonomy

The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) is the set of rules and recommendations dealing with the formal scientific names of plants, fungi, and algae. The International Botanical Congress maintains the Code. The current version of the code, the Melbourne Code, was adopted in 2011.

How are taxonomy and nomenclature done?

Taxonomy is the science of naming organisms and the rules that govern that naming. It includes classifying organisms into the taxonomic hierarchy, starting from the broadest (e.g. domain or kingdom) to the most specific (e.g. species or subspecies). Taxonomy determines scientific names for organisms and organises them into a classification system. However, it also identifies organisms related by descent or evolution, e.g., determining if a species may be threatened by extinction. The complexity of a taxonomic nomenclature system depends on the group of organisms. It is most complex for species, less so for genera, families and so on.

Current systems of taxonomy and nomenclature

The current system of taxonomic nomenclature was developed around the 18th century, and it is known as the Linnaean system. This system is organised according to the kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species. It is considered the most successful system of taxonomic nomenclature, but there are some limitations to the system.

Modern taxonomic nomenclature (systematic naming) is controlled by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). The rules of nomenclature are stringent and detailed. For example, the first official description of a species is a “type” specimen, a specific example of the species stored in a museum or herbarium. The type specimen must be preserved, named, and deposited in a museum or herbarium . The type specimen is the “gold standard” for a species, and the species name must be the same as the name originally given to the type specimen. Scientific names are fixed forever once they are published. This is why biologists are careful to use the correct scientific name when referring to a species.

How can taxonomic nomenclature help our society today?

Taxonomy is the science of naming living things, while nomenclature is the science of naming organisms. These subject areas are critical to everything from Biology and Zoology to Botany and Agriculture. So what makes them different and valuable? Taxonomy helps us with the scientific classification of living things. It provides nomenclature for these species and allows us to know exactly what we are talking about.

Taxonomy is the name given to naming groups of organisms and recording their relationships, and nomenclature is the name given to the taxonomy rules. Taxonomy and nomenclature have many practical applications in the present day. They are crucial in the fields of Medicine, Zoology, and Botany. In medicine, taxonomy and nomenclature are used to create and identify drugs and treatments. Taxonomy can also be used to classify bacteria, which is vital for developing drugs to treat bacterial infections. Examples of diseases treated with drugs from taxonomy and nomenclature are syphilis, tuberculosis, and leprosy. Taxonomy and nomenclature are also used in Zoology to name and classify animals. This is significant for protecting endangered species and classifying and studying animals to help protect them. Finally, they are used in Botany to name and classify plants and fungi. This is crucial for creating medicines, laws and preventing the spread of plant diseases.

Conclusion

Taxonomy and nomenclature are what scientists have been using since the 17th century, before the time when science started making ground-breaking discoveries and technological advancements. This blog discussed how taxonomy and nomenclature are useful for science and how both are useful for scientists looking for new species, biologists looking for cures for existing species, and teachers exploring the universe of science and for students who are curious to learn.