title: Problems in taxonomy of streptomycetes.
abstract: The bacterial species concept has different bearings. It is used to define "natural" entities with low intra-group variation, but also to serve more subjective purposes. One of problems in Streptomyces taxonomy is that it applies the species concept in both ways, i.e. both to clarify natural relationships and to protect potential (bio)technological inventions. The latter usage has introduced a streptomycetal "technospecies" which may require definition and description in other terms and by other tools than the "nomentaxospecies" which represent a more objective approach to Streptomyces taxonomy. Genetic engineering creates "man-made" microorganisms which are characterized by completely different sets of criteria as compared to their natural counterparts, which may imply needs for different taxonomies for both kinds of organisms. However, since they may occur side by side in one environment both "man-made" and "natural" streptomycetes have to be identified and classified by the same methods and tools, but in such a way which allows their separation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kuryłowicz
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gyllenberg
mesh_terms: D013302:Streptomyces / Q000145:classification*