Which of the following statements accurately describes aspects of binomial nomenclature?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) -Both 2 and 3
Biologists follow universally accepted principles to provide scientific names to known organisms. Each name has two components – the Generic name and the specific epithet. This system of providing a name with two components is called Binomial nomenclature. This naming system given by Carolus Linnaeus is being practised by biologists all over the world.
This naming system using a two word format was found convenient. The scientific name of mango is written as Mangifera indica.
In this name Mangifera represents the genus while indica, is a particular species, or a specific epithet.
Other universal rules of nomenclature are as follows:
1.Biological names are generally in Latin and written in italics. They are Latinised or derived from Latin irrespective of their origin.
2. The first word in a biological name represents the genus while the second component denotes the specific epithet.
3. Both the words in a biological name, when handwritten, are separately underlined, or printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin.
4. The first word denoting the genus starts with a capital letter while the specific epithet starts with a small letter. It can be illustrated with the example of Mangifera indica.