Journal article

Publication year: 2010

Pages: 7-15

Journal: The bulletin of BISMiS

Volume number: 1

Issue number: 1

URL: https://www.bismis.net/files/BulletinofBISMIS_1-1.pdf#page=11

Publisher: Bergey's International Society for Microbial Systematics

Abstract: 

Over the last 30 years, the characterization and identification of prokaryotes has undergone a dramatic change. Nowadays, the first step in characterization is often the determination of the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Based on a computer-generated comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence with sequences from reference strains, it is possible to allocate an unknown to a taxonomic group, often to a genus, rarely to a species. Isolates, which may represent novel taxa (genera or species) are then further characterized in order to find additional markers which are different from those reported for already established taxa. In several cases, only a very restricted set of phenotypic differences is reported and hence the classification of novel taxa is based largely on the 16S rRNA gene sequence differences. Sometimes additional (housekeeping) gene sequence differences are also reported, which may be regarded as sufficient for the delineation of novel species or even genera. There is a current trend to delineate bacterial taxa more and more on the basis of the genotype. But only the phenotype shows what genetic information is expressed and hence the phenotype represents an additional important level of information. In the case of a strain or set of strains which may represent novel taxa, it is therefore still essential that they are characterized both genotypically and phenotypically as comprehensively as possible. Only the interplay between genetic and phenotypic data sets may provide a basis for an in-depth taxonomy of the prokaryotes.

Harvard Citation style: Kämpfer, P. (2010) The importance of phenotype for bacterial systematics, The bulletin of BISMiS, 1(1), pp. 7-15. https://www.bismis.net/files/BulletinofBISMIS_1-1.pdf#page=11

APA Citation style: Kämpfer, P. (2010). The importance of phenotype for bacterial systematics. The bulletin of BISMiS. 1(1), 7-15. https://www.bismis.net/files/BulletinofBISMIS_1-1.pdf#page=11