Science and Inquiry discussion

I'm not sure if there are any botanists on this list, but I'm one that is very frustrated with the current chaos in the world of taxonomy of plants.

A little background. . . it used to be that plant families were defined based on the physical structure of the plants. During that time, the identification of some plants and which families into which to pigeon-hole them were occassionally disputed based on whether the experts were "lumpers" (put it in the larger group) or "splitters" (make it its own species.)

Nowadays, we have this field of molecular biology, and plant scientists are upending the old system categories, finding that plants that once fit well into a particular family, or even species, don't belong there at all, based on their molecular traits..

Aaaarrrrg. Now we plant specialists are having to get used to our old reliables being split out, sorted out, and named differently (those latin names of course).

How frustrating. (Yes, science is a good thing, just not always convenient).

Melissa wrote: "I'm not sure if there are any botanists on this list, but I'm one that is very frustrated with the current chaos in the world of taxonomy of plants.

A little background. . . it used to be that p..."

I can imagine the frustration, it probably seems like everyone in the profession suddenly started speaking a new language. I have read some of what you are speaking of in books on evolution. It looks like the change is unavoidable though. Like poor Pluto has being relegated to a member of the Kuiper belt or something. I would just as soon keep him as a planet and god of the underworld.

Chas it's definitely humbling. The study of genetics is challenging in and of itself--I'll stick to botany and just muddle through.

Melissa wrote: "Chas it's definitely humbling. The study of genetics is challenging in and of itself--I'll stick to botany and just muddle through."

The study of genetics should astound everyone. There are many people, including computer scientists, that just assume that when computers become complex and powerful enough a computer mind will emerge. This in conformity with the newly proposed science of complexity. Can anyone imagine a world where computers are studying themselves as humans are doing now, studying how they are designed, studying how they are programed, and speculating among themselves what changes to make in their future issues more efficient, or perhaps to enjoy a more pleasurable existence as viewed in their own eyes, whatever that might be. :>)

Maybe there ought to be number system to taxonomy, sort of the ISBN for books? So everything should get individual number, but you can determine how closely related they are by looking at the numbers.

Speaking of Pluto, nothing really has changed on Pluto itself, it's just been given a new zipcode, that's all. :)

Coqueline wrote: "Maybe there ought to be number system to taxonomy, sort of the ISBN for books? So everything should get individual number, but you can determine how closely related they are by looking at the numbe..."

Darn it. I'm not going to be able to stop thinking about this.

Well I heard that in the noit too distant future we will be able to get DNA swabs of our plants and find out exactly what plants share genes with other plants!