Microbial Taxonomy

      

Because of the unique nature of microbes, their scientific identification requires special consideration. Therefore the dynamic process of microbial classification or taxonomy (microbial taxonomy) is defined as the science of biological classification. In a broader sense, it consists of three separate but interrelated parts: classification, nomenclature and identification. The term ‘systematics’ is often used for taxonomy. However, many taxonomists define systematic in more general terms as the scientific study of organisms with the ultimate objective of characterizing and arranging them in an orderly manner. Any study of the nature of organisms, when the knowledge gained is used in taxonomy, is a part of systematics.

      One of the oldest classification systems called ‘Natural classification’ arranges organisms into groups whose members share many characteristics. The Swedish botanist Carl von Linne also known as Carolus Linnaeus developed the first natural classification in the middle of the eighteenth century. It was based largely on anatomical characteristics and was a great improvement over previously employed artificial systems because knowledge of an organism position in the scheme provided information about many of its properties. For example, classification of humans as mammals denotes that they have hair, self-regulatory body temperature and milk-producing mammary glands in females. Bacterial pathogens and microbes of industrial importance were historically given names that described the diseases they cause or the processes they perform – example; Vibrio cholera. Although these labels are of practical use, they do little to guide the taxonomist concerned with the vast majority of microbes that are neither pathogenic nor of industrial consequence. In practice, determining the genus and species of a newly isolated microbe is based on polyphasic taxonomy. This type of microbial taxonomy includes phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic features.

-Phenotypic or Phenetic Classification: This type of classification is basically the classification of organisms according to mutual similarity of their expressed traits (hair, colour, locomotive organ etc).

- Phylogenetic or Pheletic classification: In the early 19^th century, scientist used this system or type of classification to compare organisms on the basis of evolutionary relationships. However,  in the twentieth century, microbiologist could not effectively employ this system of classification. This is due to the lack of good fossil record.

- Genotypic classification: This system of classification seeks to compare the genetic similarity between organisms. Individual genes or whole genomes can be compared using this method of classification

Summary;

Scientist and microbiologist, who seek to understand the diversity of life forms (organisms) effectively, use the tool of taxonomy to reliably classify biological agents. Taxonomy is the bed-rock of understanding how organism or living things are grouped together and by what features they are grouped!!