Question

With respect to binomial nomenclature, identify the incorrect statement.

• A. Biological names are generally in Latin and written in italics.
• B. The first word in the name represents specific epithet and the second component denotes genus.
• C. Both the words in the name when handwritten are separately underlined.
• D. The first word starts with capital letter, while the second word starts with small letter.

Hint:

Always remember the order: Genus comes first (Capitalized), then the specific epithet (lowercase). E.g., {Mangifera indica}.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Problem:
Binomial nomenclature, formalized by Carolus Linnaeus, is the universally accepted system of naming organisms using a two-part scientific name. It follows strict international conventions.
Step 2: Approach and Formula:
Evaluate each statement against the universal rules of binomial nomenclature to identify the factual error regarding the order of the naming components.
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's review the universal rules:
- Biological names are generally derived from Latin (regardless of their origin) and are printed in italics to indicate their Latin origin. (Statement 1 is correct).
- When handwritten, both the genus and specific epithet words must be separately underlined. (Statement 3 is correct).
- The first word representing the genus must start with a capital letter, and the second word representing the specific epithet must start with a small letter (e.g., {Mangifera indica}). (Statement 4 is correct).
- The first word in a biological name always represents the genus (generic name), while the second word denotes the specific epithet (species name). Statement 2 erroneously claims the exact reverse order.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The incorrect statement is (2).