Scientists propose new DNA-based nomenclature system for single-celled organisms 

The proposed methodology aims to deal with the limitations of the current practices in place.

In a recent published in Nature Microbiology, scientists have proposed a new methodology to name single-celled organisms, or prokaryotes, which uses genome sequences as types of nomenclature.

So far, regulations to name prokaryotes are defined under the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP), but this existing system requires new species to be grown in a laboratory and at least two living or frozen samples of the microorganism to be submitted. Most prokaryotes are not available as pure cultures, and hence ineligible to be named under the ICNP regulations, the SeqCode: a nomenclatural code for prokaryotes described from sequence data research paper said.

Prokaryotes are the smallest form of life that can survive independently. These small organisms, mostly single-celled, lack a defined nucleus or any cell organelles due to lack of internal membranes.

Prokaryotes are divided into two domains: bacteria and archaea.

The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP) is an updated version of the 1990 revision of the Bacteriological Code.

It was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology in 2019. According to these rules, scientists must grow the species of prokaryotes in the laboratory and submit a “type” culture. According to the U.K. Health Security Agency, a or a type strain is the strain on which the description of a species is based. This requirement has “hindered the development of a nomenclature for uncultured and fastidious cultured prokaryotes”, researchers proposing the SeqCode said.

A description of the species must also be published in a scientific journal and must be accepted by the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) that administers the ICNP.