The Application of Computers to Taxonomy

Abstract

SUMMARY: A method is described for handling large quantities of taxonomic data by an electronic computer so as to yield the outline of a classification based on equally weighted features. This enables Similarity to be expressed numerically, and would allow taxonomic rank to be measured in terms of it. An example in bacteria is given, and the results compared with the conventional classification. The method is to count the number of similar and of dissimilar features between strains and to sort the strains into groups whose members have a high percentage of similarities.