REASSESSING OUR NAMING PRACTICES FOR ORGANISMS IDENTIFIED FROM GENOMIC DATA

Nomenclature serves as the common language through which we communicate biodiversity. Using consistent and universal names allow unambiguous reference to organisms. This facilitates the critical connections between research in vastly different fields required for obtaining a holistic view of an organism. In the prokaryotes, a code of nomenclature that allows use of genomic data as types, SeqCode, has recently been developed. This means that prokaryotic genomes can now serve as anchor points for names ascribed to the biodiversity represented by them, including genomes derived from eDNA. However, with SeqCode development largely aiming for consistency with the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes that govern cultivated prokaryotes, many western practices in naming are inadvertently also being preserved. Thus, despite many microbial ecologists showing significant improvement in how we conduct research in collaboration with Indigenous communities, the naming of microorganisms does not yet reflect this progress. We are now at a pivotal point in the lifespan of the SeqCode to effect change in how we approach naming of prokaryotes, particularly organisms discovered from Indigenous lands. Here, we would like to extend a call to action to build a global network of Indigenous Peoples and researchers to develop guidelines for the naming of prokaryotes. Co-developed names will not only provide richness to the nomenclatural landscape but would show respect to the names and Indigenous knowledge gathered over generations by the guardians of this biodiversity.

Presentation Preference: Standard Oral (12 Minutes)

Primary Presenter: Marike Palmer, University of Manitoba (marike.palmer@umanitoba.ca)

Authors:

Marike Palmer, Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada  (marike.palmer@umanitoba.ca)

Carlo Carere, Te Tari Pūhanga Tukanga Matū-Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha-University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa-New Zealand  (carlo.carere@canterbury.ac.nz)

Eric Collins, Centre for Earth Observation Science, Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2, Canada  (Eric.Collins@umanitoba.ca)

Laura Glendinning, The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, United Kingdom  (laura.glendinning@roslin.ed.ac.uk)

Casey Hubert, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada  (chubert@ucalgary.ca)

L. Miguel Rodriguez-R, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark  (lmr@bio.aau.dk)

Matthew Stott, Te Kura Pūtaiao Koiora-School of Biological Sciences, Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha-University of Canterbury, Christchurch 8140, Aotearoa-New Zealand  (matthew.stott@canterbury.ac.nz)