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Principles of classification

2.4 Nomenclature to genus Ipomoea and species batatas;
hence its scientific name is Ipomoea
Task 2.4 batatas.
Search for information from library (b) The full scientific name should include
and internet sources about scientific name of the author; first person to
nomenclature. publish the name effectively. For
FOR ONLINE READING ONLY
example, Rana temporaria L, where L
The process of assigning names to organisms stands for Linnaeus thus Linnaeus was
is called nomenclature, whereas the process the person who effectively published
of assigning a two-part scientific name to an this name.
organism is called binomial nomenclature. (c) A specific epithet may be taken from
The first part of the name represent the genus any source and may even be composed
and the second part represent the specific arbitrarily.
epithet. The Swedish taxonomist Carolus (d) An organism can bear only one correct
Linnaeus (1707-1778) is acknowledged scientific name, which is the earliest
for using binomial system consistenty. The name to be assigned to it (In case
word binomial is a combination of two several names had been given to it
Greek words bi- nomina which literally earlier).
means ‘two-names.’ Binomial nomenclature (e) The first name of the binomial, that
follows a set of agreed rules and principles. is the generic name, should always
begin with a capital letter and the
2.4.1 Rules used in binomial entire species name should be written
nomenclature in small letters, as in Pennisetum
Binomial nomenclature is governed by mezianum.
nomenclatural codes, which provide (f) All scientific names should be written
details of rules to be followed when in Latin language. If the name is
assigning scientific names to organisms hand written, it should be underlined
of various groups, such as animals, separately and it should be italicised
plants, fungi algae, bacteria, and virus. if it is in a printed form. For instance,
For example, the code of nomenclature the scientific name of a leopard can be
for plants is called the International represented as Panthera pardus when
Code of Botanical Nomenclature hand written or Panthera pardus when
(ICBN) while for animals is called printed.
the International Code of Zoological (g) Any scientific name is not legitimate,
Nomenclature (ICZN). The rules used in unless it is accompanied by a suitable
binomial nomenclature are as follows: description and a diagnosis, which
reflects only the unique characteristics
(a) The name of an organism should of the species.
come from its generic and specific (h) If the scientific name is cited more
name. For example, human being than once in a report or paper,
belongs to genus Homo and species there after the genus name can be
sapiens; hence, its scientific name is abreviated. In this case, the first
Homo sapiens. Sweet potato belongs letter of the genus is written in a

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