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Microbial Systematics

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Environmental Biotechnology

Part of the book series: Handbook of Environmental Engineering ((HEE,volume 10))

Abstract

This chapter aims at presenting an overview of different aspects of the classification and nomenclature of the prokaryotes, i.e., the domains Bacteria and Archaea. Concepts of systematics, taxonomy, classification, nomenclature, and identification are discussed. The number of species of prokaryotes – Bacteria and Archaea combined – is surprisingly small, 8,226 as of November 2009. It is obvious that the true number of different species much larger: we probably know less than 1% of the types of prokaryotes in Nature. Classification of prokaryotes and description of species based on a polyphasic approach that includes phenotypic as well as genotypic properties. Nomenclature is governed by the rules of the Bacteriological Code (International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes), as determined by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Aharon Oren PhD (Professor)

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  1. Aharon Oren PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dawn Drive 1, Latham, 12110, USA

    Lawrence K. Wang

  2. School of Civil & Environmental Eng., Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue 50, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Volodymyr Ivanov

  3. School of Civil & Environmental Eng., Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue 50, Singapore, 639798, Singapore

    Joo-Hwa Tay

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Oren, A. (2010). Microbial Systematics. In: Wang, L., Ivanov, V., Tay, JH. (eds) Environmental Biotechnology. Handbook of Environmental Engineering, vol 10. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-140-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-140-0_3

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

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