Understanding:
• The binomial system of names for species is universal among biologists and has been agreed and developed
at a series of congresses
The binomial system of nomenclature is the formal system by which all living species are classified (taxonomy)
- It was initially developed by a Swedish botanist named Carolus Linnaeus in 1735
- It is periodically assessed and updated at a series of international congresses which occur every 4 years
The binomial system of nomenclature provides value because:
- It allows for the identification and comparison of organisms based on recognised characteristics
- It allows all organisms to be named according to a globally recognised scheme
- It can show how closely related organisms are, allowing for the prediction of evolutionary links
- It makes it easier to collect, sort and group information about organisms
Understanding:
• When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system
According to the binomial system of nomenclature, every organism is designated a scientific name with two parts:
- Genus is written first and is capitalised (e.g. Homo)
- Species follows and is written in lower case (e.g. Homo sapiens)
- Some species may occasionally have a sub-species designation (e.g. Homo sapiens sapiens – modern man)
Writing conventions:
- When typing the scientific name, it should be presented in italics
- When hand writing the scientific name, it is customary to underline
Binomial System of Nomenclature
