Binomial nomenclature

:For other topics using the name "binomial", see binomial (disambiguation).

Nomenclature Codes

From the mid nineteenth century onwards it became ever more apparent that a body of rules was necessary to govern scientific names. In the course of time these became Nomenclature Codes governing the naming of animals (ICZN), plants (incl. Fungi, cyanobacteria) (ICBN), bacteria (ICNB) and viruses.

Related Topics:
Nomenclature Codes - ICZN - Plant - Fungi - Cyanobacteria - ICBN - Bacteria - ICNB - Viruses

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These codes differ.

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• For example, the ICBN, the plant Code does not allow tautonyms, whereas the ICZN, the animal Code does allow tautonymy.
• The starting points, the time from which these Codes are in effect (retroactively), vary from group to group. In botany the starting point will often be in 1753, in zoology in 1758. Bacteriology started anew, with a starting point in 1980{{ref|system_updates}}).

A BioCode has been suggested to replace several codes, although implementation is not in sight. There also is debate concerning development of a PhyloCode to name clades of phylogenetic trees, rather than taxa. Proponents of the PhyloCode use the name "Linnaean Codes" for the joint existing Codes and "Linnaean taxonomy" for the scientific classification that uses these existing Codes'.

Related Topics:
BioCode - PhyloCode - Clade - Phylogenetic tree

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Stability

The existing Nomenclature Codes aim (successfully) at stability of names. However, such stability as exists is far from absolute. A single organism may have several scientific names in circulation, depending on taxonomic point of view (see synonymy). Another source of instability is the resurrecting of forgotten names, which can claim priority of publication. In the latter case conservation according to the nomenclature Codes is possible.

Related Topics:
Synonymy - Conservation - Nomenclature Codes

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Derivation of names

The genus name and species descriptor may come from any source whatsoever. Often they are Latin words, but they may also come from Ancient Greek, from a place, from a person (preferably a naturalist), a name from a local language, etc. In fact, taxonomists come up with specific descriptors from a variety of sources, including in-jokes and puns.

Related Topics:
Latin - Ancient Greek

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However, names are always treated grammatically as if they were a Latin sentence. For this reason the name of a species is sometimes called its "Latin name," although this terminology is frowned upon by biologists, who prefer the phrase scientific name.

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There is a separate list of Latin and Greek words commonly used in systematic names.

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