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1. FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMS. Approximately 60 programs written 
for use by biologists in general and systematists in particular 
have been listed in various issues of MUDPIE. All such programs 
are available from the programmers, but at the present time 
must be sent through the mails as paper or magnetic tape or 
as a print-out. In addition, the Smithsonian has published 
a set of programs correlated with Simpson, Roe and Lewontin's 
book on quantitative biology. The set of programs (copy attached) 
has been distributed to all MUDPIE participants, and has also 
been added to the library facilities of several time-share com¬ 
panies, including one in Australia (used by the National Museum 
in Sydney). The Smithsonian has also published a program to 
permit analysis of biogeographical data in such a way as to 
distinguish biotically distinct areas, which, although original¬ 
ly designed to permit systematists to work with collections, 
has proven to be of use in pollution work, and has been adopted 
by environmental investigators. These are the kinds of programs, 
highly repetitive in their use, which should be centrally stored 
for use by biologists in all parts of the country, rather than 
individually stored on literally dozens of independent discs. 
During the time of mutual sharing by the American Museum and 
the National Museum, costs to each were reduced through the mu¬ 
tual access to programs prepared by the other, and a national 
network would correspondingly reduce costs for all those 
participating. 
2. TAXONOMIC DATA MATRICES. The concept of storage of 
highly organized and coded taxonomic data has been fully devel¬ 
oped by MUDPIE participants. The matrix, as currently designed, 
will permit storage of any and all kinds of data pertaining 
to a taxonomic group, regardless of size or variation of the 
group. It is organized in such a way that programs written 
either in BASIC or FORTRAN can access the data. It compresses 
an enormous amount of data into a comparatively small space, 
and permits rapid retrieval in many different forms. For example, 
one of the most repetitive activities of a systematist is the 
identification of unknown specimens both in the course of his 
own work and as a service to nonsystematic users of taxonomic 
data. The taxonomic matrix can be used as a random entry key 
to process information concerning the characters of unknowns, 
taking advantage of the computer's speed in surveying the entire 
range of knowledge concerning all taxa concerned. It is a swift, 
efficient, and highly accurate method (within the limits of 
the accuracy of the data as originally stored) for eliminating 
one of the most time consuming tasks of systematics. In addi¬ 
tion, the same matrices are already being used for preparation 
of dichotomous keys which are printed by the computer; the print¬ 
ing of diagnoses or descriptions of taxa; preparation of contrasts 
between or comparison of two taxa, giving differentiating and 
similar characters; the preparation of "peek-a-boo" random entry 
field keys on punched cards; quizzing of students on their under¬ 
standing of taxonomic groups; organization of groups showing 
