Open AccessStrain, clone and species: comments on three basic concepts of bacteriology
Author(s) -
Lenie Dijkshoorn,
Björn M. Ursing,
Jan Ursing
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of medical microbiology/journal of medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.91
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1473-5644
pISSN - 0022-2615
DOI - 10.1099/0022-1317-49-5-397
Subject(s) - clone (java method) , strain (injury) , biology , term (time) , bacteriology , evolutionary biology , genetics , epistemology , philosophy , gene , bacteria , physics , quantum mechanics , anatomy
Different aspects of the terms strain, clone and species are discussed. The term strain is commonly used to denote a pure culture - here called 'the strain in the taxonomic sense' - but does also refer to a natural concept closely related to the clone. The term clone on the other hand is used both in a general and in a more restricted sense, the latter indicating a low degree of genetic exchange. The important distinction between the definition of a species and the criteria for a species is emphasised and the main kinds of criteria are considered.