BACTERIA, Classification of the bacteria-Traditional

MORATA DE AMBROSINI, VÍLMA INÉS; MARTÍN, MARÍA CAROLINA; MERÍN, MARÍA GABRIELA

Encyclopedia of Food Microbiology, 2nd Edition

ELSEVIER Ltd

Lugar: Oxford; Año: 2014; p. 169 - 173

Traditional bacterial classification deals with useful identification methods based on phenotypic characteristics. These characteristics include morphological, metabolic, physiological, and chemical traits of the cell. Even though the most traditional techniques are not entirely reliable for microbial classification, they should always complement genotypic studies, especially to define the species. Bacterial taxonomy includes three key elements: characterization, classification, and nomenclature of microorganisms, which are the basis of a formal proposal to describe new species. Although there is no official classification system for prokaryotes, the Bergey´s Manual and The Prokaryotes are the most widely accepted classification systems.