Question

Which one of the following statements is not true about the universal rules of binomial nomenclature?

• A. Both words underlined/italics
• B. Names in Latin
• C. Specific epithet small letter
• D. First word is specific epithet, second is genus

Hint:

Remember Genus = Grand (First and Capital) and specific = small (Second and small letter).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Question
The objective is to identify the incorrect statement regarding the international rules for naming living organisms, a system established by Carolus Linnaeus known as Binomial Nomenclature. Step 2: Key Formula or Approach
We evaluate the rules: - Language: Latin. - Format: Italics/Underline. - Capitalization: Genus (Upper), Species (Lower). - Sequence: Genus first, Species second. Step 3: Detailed Explanation
Rule 1 (Language): Biological names are Latin or latinized because it is a dead language, ensuring names stay constant globally. Thus, (A) is true.
Rule 2 (Printing/Writing): To show their Latin origin, names are printed in {italics}. When handwritten, they must be \underline{separately} underlined. Thus, (B) is true.
Rule 3 (Capitalization): The first word (Genus) always starts with a capital letter, while the specific epithet (species) starts with a small letter (e.g., {Mangifera indica}). Thus, (C) is true.
Rule 4 (Order): The first word in the name represents the Genus, and the second word is the specific epithet. The statement in (D) flips this rule. Thus, (D) is not true.
Step 4: Final Answer
Since the first name is always the Genus and the second is the species, statement (D) is the incorrect one.