Although the species is the fundamental unit of taxonomy, virologists only recently have begun to classify virus species in a systematic way under the leadership of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. Progress has been slow and uneven for several reasons: (i) Attempts to sort species are hampered when the distinction between classification and nomenclature is blurred. Classifying is based on observation and involves deductive reasoning, whereas naming can be as arbitrary as desired, even to the point of dispensing with the traditional Latin binomial form, (ii) Some virologists deny the possibility of applying the species concept to asexual organisms, such as viruses. Those persons are influenced by an obsolete definition of biological species which rests on observed or inferred barriers to sexual reproduction, (iii) New taxonomic tools, such as mathematical (numerical) taxonomy, might be applied profitably to virus classification, but are unfamiliar to many virologists.

This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.