Rules of Binomial Nomenclature

Rules of Binomial Nomenclature

There are codes of nomenclature : International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, International Code of Bacteriological Nomenclature, International Code of Viral Nomenclature and International Code of Nomenclature fir Cultivated Plants. International conferences are help from time to update the codes and resolve the controversies, If any. The rules formed under there coed as well as the rules set by Linnaeus areas follows:

1.       Each organism is given only one name consisting of two words, generic and specific.

2.       Though the coeds are separate for plants, animals, bacteria, etc. and the same generic name can be given to different organisms belonging to these domains. It should be avoided. However the same specific name can be given to organisms belonging to different genera.

3.       The generic name is written first. It is followed by specific name and then the name of the discoverer in full or in abbreviation.

4.       The specific name can be single or compound. Usually it begins with  a small letter. Capital letter is made occasionally when the name of species is based after a place or person.

5.       The scientific name is printed in italic. It is underlined in handwritten description. An exception is made when the biological name is written as title of paragraph.

6.       The name of the author is kept in Roman script.

7.       The original manes were is taken from Latin and Greek language. New names are now derived either from Latin language or are Latinised. This is because Latin language is dead and, therefore, it will not changer or spellings with the passage of time.

8.       Barring obvious error or misprint, a scientific name retains its original spellings.

9.       No names are recognized prior to those used by Linnaeus in 1753 for plants in “Species Plantarum” and in 1758 for animal in the 10^th edition of time.

10.   The names of families and subfamilies should be based on name of types genus.

11.   The name of subfamilies and other categories are not printed in italics. They can however, be written in bold letters.

12.   When a species e. g., Syzygium cumini Skeels.

13.   In publishing a new name the type specimen of the material is kept.

14.   A new scientific name I thought of on the basis of its characteristic, a personality or place. The selected name is such that it has no resemblance with any previously published name.

Advantages of Scientific Name

Every species had a single and specific name consisting of two world. Every organism know to science has been provide with a scientific name irrespective of its importance. There is no possibility of any changes in the spellings of a scientific name as the latter has been derived from dead Latin language. The names are of universal application for all the countries and the languages. They are generally descriptive. They names indicate relationship of a species with other present in the same genus. That are comprehensive and are easier to recollect. A wrong name can easily be corrected. A newly discovered organism can be easily provided with a new scientific name.