Q.What is tautonymy?

Tautonymy is the use of the same word for both the genus and the species name of an animal, as in Naja naja and Rattus rattus.

Explanation:

• In binomial nomenclature every organism has a two-word scientific name - the first word is the genus and the second is the species.
• When the GENERIC name and the SPECIFIC name are exactly the same word, the condition is called TAUTONYMY.
• Tautonymy is permitted in zoological nomenclature (but not in botanical nomenclature).

Examples:

• Naja naja (Indian cobra) …

Tautonymy means the genus name and the species (specific) epithet of a scientific binomial are the same word repeated twice.

In binomial nomenclature (Linnaean system), every organism is given a two-part Latinised name: the first word is the genus and the second the species (specific epithet). When both parts of this name are identical, the name is said to show tautonymy, and such a name is called a tautonym.

This convention is permitted under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), so tautonyms are common among animal names, but they are not permitted under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN/ICN) - so no plant scientific name is ever a tautonym.

Examples:

1. Naja naja - the Indian cobra. …

Tautonymy is the use of the same word for both the genus name and the species name of an animal, as in Naja naja and Rattus rattus.

Explanation:

• In binomial nomenclature every organism is given a two-word scientific name - the first word is the genus (generic name) and the second is the species (specific name).
• Usually these two words are different. When the GENERIC name and the SPECIFIC name are exactly the same word, the condition is called TAUTONYMY.
• Tautonymy is allowed in zoological nomenclature (but not in botanical nomenclature).

Examples:

• Naja naja (Indian cobra) …

ICZN (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) is the rule-book, maintained by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, that standardises how animal species are scientifically named so that every animal has one valid, universally recognised name.

Taxonomists in different countries and languages describe new species independently. Without a shared set of rules, the same animal could end up with several different scientific names, or two different animals could accidentally be given the same name, causing confusion in research and communication. To prevent this, the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature drew up a formal code — the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).

The ICZN lays down rules for:

• The correct formation of binomial/trinomial scientific names.
• The Principle of Priority — the first validly published name for a taxon takes precedence over later synonyms.
• What counts as valid publication of a new species description. …

Tautonymy means the genus name is repeated as the species name in a binomial — permitted under the zoological code but not the botanical code.

Under the binomial nomenclature system (Linnaeus), every scientific name has two parts: a genus name and a specific epithet, e.g. Homo sapiens. Tautonymy is the special case where both parts of the name are identical — the specific epithet simply repeats the generic name.

This is allowed under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), so many well-known animals carry tautonymous names, but it is not permitted under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants — no plant name may be a tautonym.

Two examples:

1. Naja naja — the Indian cobra. …

Biogenesis states that life comes only from pre-existing life, disproving the older idea of spontaneous generation (abiogenesis of complex organisms from non-living matter).

Before the mid-19th century, many believed in spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) — the idea that living organisms such as maggots or microbes could arise directly from non-living matter (e.g. rotting meat, broth). This idea was progressively disproved:

• Francesco Redi (1668) showed that maggots appear on meat only when flies can lay eggs on it; meat in a sealed/gauze-covered jar (excluding flies) produced no maggots.
• Lazzaro Spallanzani further showed that boiled, sealed broth remained free of microorganisms. …

Tautonymy means the genus name and the species name of a binomial are identical words, e.g. Naja naja.

In binomial nomenclature every organism is given a two-part scientific name: the first word is the genus and the second is the specific epithet. When both words are exactly the same, the name is called a tautonym, and the phenomenon is called tautonymy.

Tautonymy is permitted under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) but is not allowed under the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) — so true tautonyms occur only in animal names, never in plant names.

Examples:

• Naja naja — the Indian cobra …