HOW BACTERIA ARE NA:VIED AND IDENTIFIED* 



Some principles of taxonomy and nomenclature. "Taxonomy is that 

 branch of biology that deals with the orderly arrangement of plants and 

 animals" (Johnson, Taxonomy of the Flowering Plants, New York, 

 1931, p. 3). 



The necessity for applying names to species or kinds of bacteria is self- 

 evident. It is highly desirable that the name applied to an organism by 

 one person should be understood b}^ others. It is further desirable that as 

 far as practicable all individuals use the same name for the same kind of 

 organism. It is helpful, therefore, if there can be an agreement regarding 

 the method of naming organisms, and as to the correct name for each 

 organism. The term nomenclature is applied to the naming of plants and 

 animals, and under this term may be included all discussions as to methods 

 of naming and correctness of particular names. 



It is not enough that bacteria be named. Some method of classification 

 of the bacteria is essential if the names are to be rendered accessible and 

 available, and identification of unknown forms be made possible. Taxo- 

 nomy is that Ijranch of biology which treats of classification in accordance 

 with a convention or law. It is apparent that taxonomy must be depend- 

 ent in part for its satisfactory development upon nomenclature. Even 

 though there may not be agreement among bacteriologists as to the exact 

 classification that is to be used, nevertheless it is highly desirable that there 

 be agreement as to some of the fundamental characteristics of satisfactory 

 biological classifications in general. 



What kinds of names are used. Two kinds of names are commonly 

 given to the different kinds of plants and animals, the common, provincial, 

 vernacular or casual names on the one hand and the international or scien- 

 tific names on the other. These should be carefully differentiated , and their 

 respective advantages and disadvantages noted. 



It is inevitable, and on the whole probably' desirable, that for each kind 

 of familiar animal or plant in each language there will be coined a name. 

 Usually the name for the same organism will be different in each language. 

 For example, we have in English Oak, in German Eiche, in Latin Qucrcus, 

 etc. For many uncommon kinds, however, there may be no such vernacu- 

 lar names developed. There have been, of course, many casual or vernac- 

 ular names given to kinds of bacteria. In English we speak of the tubercle 

 bacillus, the typhoid germ, the gonococcus, the Welch bacillus, the golden 



* Contributed by Prof. R. E. Buchanan, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, January, 

 1934; revised, March, 1943. 



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