NOMENCLATURE, BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

            The process of assigning a scientific name to an organism so that such an organism is known by the same name all over the world is known as nomenclature. The naming of an organism involves classification and identification. In the absence of scientific name the organism may be referred to by different names in different places and different countries. So this would create confusion among scientists and people. To avoid such confusion a scientific name is given to each identified species so that this name can be referred by all.

            Carolus Linnaeus was the first biologist who realized the importance of giving scientific name to each organism. He suggested a system of nomenclature, in which the name of organisms involves two parts – one generic name and the other specific name. Such system of naming of organism which consists of two parts is known as binomial nomenclature. Thus binomial nomenclature is a system of giving a scientific name to an organism, which involves two parts – one part refers to the generic name and the other part refers to a specific name.

            As for example, according to the binomial system of nomenclature the botanical name of garden pea is Pisum sativum, in which Pisum refers to a generic name and sativum refers to a specific name. Simillarly, the botanical name of Mango is Mangifera indica, in which Mangifera refers to the generic name and indica refers to the specific name.

            RULES OF BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

            The following rules are adopted in giging a scientific name to an organism –

            1. The names of plants and animals should normally be of at least binomial in nature. In special cases the names may be trinomial.

            2. The names should be in Latin or derivatives of Latin.

            3. The names should be written in italics. The first letter of the generic name should be capital and the specific name must be written in small letters.

            4. The name should generally be limited to twelve letters.

            5. Author’s name should be suffixed in Roman letters.

            6. The nomenclature of taxonomic group is determined by priority of publication.

            7. A name cannot be given twice.

            8. Name should indicate the feature of the organism and the name should be easily pronounceable.

           9. Taxonomists who wants to name a plant or animal should submit the diagnosis of the organism in Latin to the ICZN or ICBN as the case may be. The author should follow all the rules of nomenclature and he should publish his account in standard journal. If the International Congress recognizes this as valid publication and approves this diagnosis, then only the proposed name will be a valid name.

            10. The author should send the specimen as type specimen for preservation in some famous museums and herbaria.

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