Default taxonomy: Ernst Mayr's view of the microbial world

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Sep 15;95(19):11043-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.95.19.11043.

Abstract

This perspective is a response to a taxonomic proposal by E. Mayr ["Two empires or three?" (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 95, 9720-9723]. Mayr has suggested that the now accepted classification of life into three primary domains, Archaea, Bacteria, and Eucarya-originally proposed by myself and others--be abandoned in favor of the earlier Prokaryote-Eukaryote classification. Although the matter appears a taxonomic quibble, it is not that simple. At issue here are differing views as to the nature of biological classification, which are underlain by differing views as to what biology is and will be--matters of concern to all biologists.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biology*
  • Classification*
  • Eukaryotic Cells / classification
  • History, 20th Century
  • Microbiology / classification
  • Phylogeny
  • Prokaryotic Cells / classification

Personal name as subject

  • E Mayr