Binomial Nomenclature by Caitlin

Introduction:

Scientists have estimated that between 10 and 100 million species populate our Earth. Without a standardized way of classifying them, it would be extremely difficult to study and talk about them. This is why a man named Carolus Linnaeus created the binomial system. This system incorporated two-part names in Latin, making a standardized way to name organisms.

History:

Organisms were first classified by the Greek philosopher Aristotle. It was a simple system that distinguished between plants and animals, and then by where each lived. This system was further developed in the Middle Ages, and it became known as the polynomial system.  However, naming organisms in this way caused a lot of confusion. Some names had up to 12 latin describing words. Also some people used different words to name the same species. For example, the wild briar rose was called Rosa sylvestris inorda seu canina by some scientists and Rosa sylvestris alba cum rubore folio glabro by others. It was in the mid-1700’s that Linnaeus finally created his system.

Rules:

1.    The entire two part name must be italicized

2.    The genus name (first word) is always written first

3.    The genus name is always capitalized

4.    The specific epithet (second word)  is never capitalized

Facts:

●     Many names of species actually describe the organism

○     Quercus alba is “white oak”

●     Subspecies can be identified with a trinomial

○     Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus

●     The are two organizations dedicated to the naming of species

Question:

●     How significant of a setback would the field of biology have faced if Linnaeus had never developed binomial nomenclature?