Updating Prokaryotic Taxonomy

Prokaryotic taxonomy is cyclically confronted with breakthroughs of methodological and conceptual innovations. The “sexiest” novelties are often met by periods of reluctance but, after some ups and downs, tend to consolidate themselves within the taxonomic framework. One of these novelties is presented in this issue of the Journal of Bacteriology, where Konstantinidis and Tiedje (10) evaluate the implementation of a genomics-based parameter to objectify and numerically confine the higher taxa (i.e., taxa above species) of the taxonomic hierarchical classification system. Their results seem promising, and one could predict that it might be an important parameter to take into account when modernizing prokaryotic taxonomy. However, at the same time, we have to be aware of what has been achieved and how the microbial classification system has evolved.

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