Chemotaxonomy
Chemotaxonomy
Chemotaxonomy (pronounced: kee-mo-tax-on-o-mee), also known as chemosystematics, is the practice of classifying and identifying organisms based on differences and similarities in their biochemical compositions. The term was first coined in the 20th century and is derived from the Greek words 'chemia' meaning chemistry and 'taxis' meaning arrangement.
Overview
Chemotaxonomy uses chemical constituents to classify and identify organisms. These chemical constituents can include amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates, lipids, and secondary metabolites. The chemical constituents are used to create a 'chemical fingerprint' for each organism, which can then be used to classify and identify the organism.
Applications
Chemotaxonomy has a wide range of applications in the fields of botany, zoology, and microbiology. In botany, chemotaxonomy is used to classify and identify plants based on their chemical constituents. In zoology, chemotaxonomy is used to classify and identify animals based on their chemical constituents. In microbiology, chemotaxonomy is used to classify and identify microorganisms based on their chemical constituents.
Limitations
While chemotaxonomy is a powerful tool for classifying and identifying organisms, it does have its limitations. One of the main limitations is that the chemical constituents of an organism can change depending on the organism's environment. This means that the 'chemical fingerprint' of an organism can change, making it difficult to classify and identify the organism.
See also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Chemotaxonomy
- Wikipedia's article - Chemotaxonomy
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