Numerical taxonomy development

Numerical taxonomy has developed methods to express numerically the similarities and differences between individuals, populations or clusters of them. As long as the same character states are scored in the same way and clustered according to the same rules and if it ic agreed at which number or formula a grouping may be ctlied species, variety, etc., a classification is repeatable indeed. That it is then much more objective than non-numerical methods, is questioned by many. 

We prefer to let historians of science pursue this argument. For although it was — and remains — important to trace the roots of the historical origins of an idea in science, the development of numerical taxonomy has so far outpaced the early primitive ideas on this subject that to have to rely on Adanson s views for a validation of modern numerical phenetics seems as irrelevant as to rely on Mendel s writings for a validation of the findings of the molecular geneticists. (Sneath and Sokal, 1973 23-24)... 

Recent advances in numerical taxonomy including character weighting and evolutionary interpretations. Developments in phenetic classification of hominids and other groups. Nature of characters and biological significance of correlation [Pg.182]

NSF, see National Science Foundation Nuclear hormone receptor genes, 272 Null hypothesis, 58 Numerical taxonomy, 127 development of, 6 validity of, 7... 

Once it is determined that data exist, the next step is to begin the collection process. If sufficient thought and training is provided in the development and operation of the maintenance and operating reporting systems, much of the collection process can be automated. Automation assumes that a well-thought-out taxonomy is in place. If this is not the case, then an analyst must collect and review the records manually. In either case, the analyst must collect data from the plant sources previously discussed in order to determine the numerator (number of failures within a unique plant equipment population), and denominator (the operating time or number of demands for the equipment) of the equation to calculate failure rates. 

Apart from the fact that the majority of lichens can be categorized as either basidiolichens or ascolichens, and the numerous sterile species that have obvious affinity with the latter, lichen taxonomy is very much an arbitrary system. Classifications so far developed are artificial and based, to a large extent, on seemingly constant morphological characteristics or more recently on chemical constituents (Culberson and Culberson, 1970" It is... 

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