Classification of Procaryotic Organisms and the Concept of Bacterial Speciation

Abstract

Taxonomy is the science of classification of organisms. Bacterial taxonomy consists of three separate, but interrelated areas: classification, nomenclature, and identification. Classification is the arrangement of organisms into groups (taxa) on the basis of similarities or relationships. Nomenclature is the assignment of names to the taxonomic groups according to international rules (International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria [Sneath, 1992]). Identification is the practical use of a classification scheme to determine the identity of an isolate as a member of an established taxon or as a member of a previously unidentified species.