Amazing organisms/preface
It is estimated that there are about 8 million species on our planet. Only about 2 million of these species have been scientifically described. Many species became extinct before they were discovered. Many species are on the verge of extinction. Many species are at risk of extinction before they are discovered.
Scientists are discovering new species every year. Fossils of living and extinct species are also available. It helps to further understand the evolution of organisms. Newly discovered organisms may be new to us. But we must note that they predate the human race.
Carl Linnaeus created the modern system of classification of all living things known to man. He is a Swedish biologist and physician. He made several expeditions in 1740 to discover and classify plants and animals. He published Species Plantarum in 1753. It became the starting point for the modern names of plants and animals.
Binomial Nomenclature
[edit | edit source]A plant or an animal species has different names within a state. As many languages as there are in a country, each language has its own name. Likewise globally, it is known by different names. One creature was called by many names.
Two-word nomenclature was introduced to avoid the problem of multi-word nomenclature. Gaspard Bauhin, a scholar, first introduced the binomial nomenclature in 1623. A new method of naming an organism by its scientific name appeared in 1623. However, its implementation remained problematic.
He created the basis for Scientific Classification and Nomenclature. Hence he is called Father of Modern Taxonomy. The scientific name of the species is indicated by Latin or a translation of Latin. The two word name of rice is Oryza sativa. It is the scientific name of rice.
New species
[edit | edit source]New species are scattered around the world. Every year thousands of new plants and animals are scientifically described and documented by experts around the world. 15,000 to 18,000 new species are identified each year.
People who discover new species are experts in a particular field. For example if a person is an expert on monkeys, he knows about all the monkey species living in that region. If he goes into a new forest, he can easily tell by the bone found there which species of monkey it is.
If he finds a new monkey he will be actively engaged in research. He will study in comparison with the monkey species already classified and described. If it is different from the monkey species already discovered, he will conclude that it is a new species. He will then give the new species a scientific name.
Genetic analysis
[edit | edit source]There may be some differences in shapes and sizes between the two species. It is also difficult to conclude that it is a new species based on this. Hence genetic analysis test should be done. If there is a difference in the number of genes it can be concluded as a new species. It is hundred percent sure.
New technology like this paves the way for identifying even more species. New species are constantly being discovered through DNA analysis. DNA analysis of what is considered to be the same species can reveal differences between them. Now they are classified as separate species.
Genetic testing is done on specimens stored in museums. These were collected about 50 to 100 years ago. New species are also being discovered from the samples here. Extinct species can also be found when examining samples of fossils. It helps us understand evolution more.