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ICSP response to ‘Science depends on nomenclature, but nomenclature is not science’

Nature Reviews Microbiology volume 20, pages 249–250 (2022) Cite this article

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The Executive Board of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) read with much interest the recent comment by Lloyd and Tahon (Science depends on nomenclature, but nomenclature is not science. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 20, 123–124 (2022))1. The authors raise various criticisms of recent ICSP activities to which we respond here.

Lloyd and Tahon1 highlight some consequences of the recent decision by the ICSP to revise the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP)2 to recognize the taxonomic rank of phylum3. This decision, voted on by the ICSP in early 2021, redressed a historic oversight in that the rank of phylum was not included in earlier versions of the ICNP. This revision is important as, before then, any names for prokaryotic phyla were by definition colloquial and thus lacked standing in nomenclature (were not ‘validly published names’). By contrast, phyla can now be given validly published names. As a result, Oren and Garrity validly published names for 42 phyla4. However, following the new ICNP rules for how phylum names should be formed (specifically, taking a stem from the name of a contained genus, combined with the suffix -ota) means that some of the historic colloquial names (such as Firmicutes) cannot be adapted into readily recognizable (homophonic) validly published phylum names. Regrettably, in taking issue with some of the names proposed by Oren and Garrity4, Lloyd and Tahon1 muddle the action of these authors as independent individuals with the actions of the ICSP in revising the ICNP: amending the ICNP to permit the naming of phyla is one thing; proposing names for phyla in accordance with the Rules of the ICNP is completely separate. The ICSP recognizes that Oren and Garrity4 proposing replacements for some commonly used colloquial names may cause some short-term displeasure or misunderstanding but also emphasize that this will be offset by the clear long-term benefit to the research community of now being able to name prokaryotic phyla under the ICNP. Moreover, once names are proposed the community still decides which to adopt, although experience suggests that the scientific community will rapidly adjust. Similarly, how names are listed in databases is a matter of choice for their curators (although ICSP naturally encourages the use of correct names, as defined in the ICNP2).

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Acknowledgements

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and represent the views of the Executive Board of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northumbria University, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK

    Iain C. Sutcliffe

  2. Departamento de Microbiología y Ecología, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain

    David R. Arahal

  3. Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany

    Markus Göker

  4. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, The Institute of Life Sciences, Edmond J. Safra Campus - Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel

    Aharon Oren

Authors
  1. Iain C. Sutcliffe
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  2. David R. Arahal
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  3. Markus Göker
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  4. Aharon Oren
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Correspondence to Iain C. Sutcliffe.

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ICSP website: https://www.the-icsp.org/publications

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Sutcliffe, I.C., Arahal, D.R., Göker, M. et al. ICSP response to ‘Science depends on nomenclature, but nomenclature is not science’. Nat Rev Microbiol 20, 249–250 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-022-00706-z

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