Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

What is a Species?01:17

What is a Species?

41.4K
Overview
41.4K
Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology01:22

Phylogenetic Species Concept in Microbiology

204
The phylogenetic species concept (PSC) is a framework used to delineate species based on evolutionary relationships, emphasizing shared ancestry and diagnosable genetic traits. Unlike morphological or biological species concepts, the PSC is particularly advantageous for microbial taxonomy, where traditional reproductive or phenotypic criteria often fall short due to the prevalence of asexual reproduction, minimal morphological differentiation, and widespread horizontal gene transfer among...
204
The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

23.0K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
23.0K
Methods of Classification and Identification01:28

Methods of Classification and Identification

2.3K
Bacterial identification relies on a diverse array of techniques to classify and understand microorganisms, each tailored to uncover specific characteristics. Traditional morphological approaches, while still valuable, are limited for closely related or structurally simple organisms. Modern methods integrate biochemical, serological, genetic, and advanced molecular tools to achieve greater accuracy.Morphological and Biochemical TechniquesMorphological characteristics, such as cell shape and...
2.3K
Multi-species Conserved Sequences02:51

Multi-species Conserved Sequences

3.3K
Next-generation sequencing technologies have created large genomic databases of a variety of animals and plants. Ever since the human genome project was completed, scientists studied the genome of primates, mammals, and other phylogenetically distant living beings. Such large-scale  studies have provided new insights into the evolutionary relationship between organisms.
Although the genome of each species varies greatly from each other, a few sequences are highly conserved. Such conserved...
3.3K
Modern Molecular Taxonomy01:29

Modern Molecular Taxonomy

836
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
836

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Natural selection and language genes in humans.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

An identity for the inscrutable Homo habilis.

Anatomical record (Hoboken, N.J. : 2007)·2026
Same author

Linguistic capacity was present in the <i>Homo sapiens</i> population 135 thousand years ago.

Frontiers in psychology·2025
Same author

Race realism goes both ways.

History and philosophy of the life sciences·2025
Same author

Endocranial volumes and human evolution.

F1000Research·2023
Same author

Remembering an original primatologist: Judith Masters.

Nature·2022
Same journal

The Origins of Fashion.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same journal

Silence as an Overlooked Catalyzer for Primate Vocal Evolution.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same journal

Diversifying Methods in Evolutionary Anthropology: Autophotography as a Tool for Quasi-Naturalistic Observation of Human Behavior.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same journal

Why Do Humans Exercise? A Neuro-Evolutionary Framework for Discretionary Physical Effort.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same journal

Opaque Social Instruments: A Cultural Evolutionary Approach to Pleistocene Symbolic Artifacts.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
Same journal

The Role and Consequences of Arranged Marriage in the Evolution of Human Mating.

Evolutionary anthropology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

720

Recognizing species, present and past.

Ian Tattersall

    Evolutionary Anthropology
    |March 5, 2014
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Taxonomic classification faces ongoing debate regarding how to define boundaries between taxa. Challenges persist in recognizing and delineating species, the fundamental unit of taxonomic analysis.

    Keywords:
    diversityfossilsspeciationspecies recognitionsystematics

    More Related Videos

    Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography
    07:30

    Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

    Published on: November 14, 2025

    1.4K
    Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
    07:37

    Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

    Published on: January 19, 2018

    21.5K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 2, 2026

    A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
    10:23

    A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

    Published on: July 11, 2025

    720
    Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography
    07:30

    Using Archival Japanese Paper and Thermoplastic Resins to Prepare Fossils for Storage, Display, Transport, and Radiography

    Published on: November 14, 2025

    1.4K
    Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
    07:37

    Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications

    Published on: January 19, 2018

    21.5K

    Area of Science:

    • Systematics and Taxonomy
    • Evolutionary Biology

    Background:

    • The concept of nature being organized into discrete units (taxa) is widely accepted.
    • Significant debate exists regarding the precise methods and philosophical underpinnings of drawing taxonomic boundaries.
    • Disagreement ranges from denying the existence of higher taxa to practical difficulties in species delineation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To explore the ongoing debate surrounding the definition and delineation of taxonomic boundaries.
    • To highlight the challenges faced in recognizing and defining species as the fundamental unit in taxonomy.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical analysis of taxonomic principles.
    • Review of practical challenges in species identification and delimitation.

    Main Results:

    • Conflicting viewpoints exist on the reality and definition of higher taxa.
    • Significant practical difficulties are encountered in the species-level taxonomic analysis.

    Conclusions:

    • The precise drawing of taxonomic boundaries remains a contentious issue in biological systematics.
    • Addressing the challenges in species delineation is crucial for advancing taxonomic understanding.