Читать книгу Molecular Mechanisms of Photosynthesis - Robert E. Blankenship - Страница 24

Living organisms are classified according to the binomial nomenclature method, introduced by Linnaeus in the 1700s. The first name (always capitalized) is the genus name (plural, genera), while the second name (never capitalized) is the species name. Both names are italicized. The grouping of organisms into species, genera, and higher order taxa is based on a number of characteristics and represents a useful, but ultimately arbitrary, decision as to where to place the divisions along the continuous variations among related organisms. A genus is a group of organisms that share many but not all characteristics. Higher‐order classifications that are intermediate between the genus and phylum, such as family and order, serve to classify groups of organisms into broader categories.