Microbial systematics and taxonomy: relevance for a microbial commons.

• The issues of microbial taxonomy and potential interactions with a microbial commons are discussed, with emphasis on three components: characterization; classification; and nomenclature. The current state of technology and the spectrum of methods that are used for phenotypic and genotypic characterization of prokaryotes, classification at different taxonomic levels and points of prokaryote nomenclature are reviewed. While all taxonomic ranks comprise a cohesive systematic framework for microorganisms, the prokaryotic genus and species provide the "working unit" of taxonomy. Since 2004, the number of validly published genera and species has increased by approximately 50%. Extensive development of technology will continue to enable ever higher resolution characterization and more refined classification of microorganisms. Characterization and classification at the species level may be most relevant for bacterial taxonomy, although reproducible differentiation at the strain level will probably prove to be more relevant for a microbial commons. A dynamic microbial taxonomy, albeit with well-founded and stable guidelines for defining microorganisms, provides an efficient organizational system for dealing with the enormous spectrum of microbial diversity.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Mikrobiologi inom det medicinska området (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Microbiology in the medical area (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Mikrobiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Microbiology (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Biokemi och molekylärbiologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Access to Information

Archaea

classification

Bacteria

classification

Bacterial Typing Techniques

Biological Specimen Banks

Classification

Information Dissemination

Microbiology

classification

standards

Sequence Analysis

DNA

Technology Transfer

Terminology as Topic

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