Challenges for taxonomic research in the age of '-omics‘ technologies

Discover, name, classify – even as far back as the time of Carl Linnaeus, these were the first steps any biologists took in their work. To this day, the classification of the living world (taxonomy) remains important, because new species are continually being discovered. Taxonomy contributes greatly to the preservation of biodiversity, and is an important foundation for the practical application of personalised medicine.

The molecular biology revolution, which is becoming increasingly dominated by high throughput sequencing methods in genomics and proteomics, has opened up new possibilities for taxonomy. Great numbers of hitherto unknown species are being discovered, and for the first time speciation can be examined at the level of complete genetic information and its expression. This gives rise to reasonable hope of reconciling the inevitably “artificial” system of classification, which generally reflects human interests, with the findings of evolutionary research.

However, this abundance of data also causes problems. Molecular taxonomy is not necessarily better than a classification based on phenotypic characteristics. An expert group of biologists and medical doctors has analysed the field of taxonomy, particularly with regard to the opportunities presented by “-omics” technologies (genomics, metagenomics, metabolomics and proteomics). The group’s aim was to inform decision-makers of the importance of taxonomy and to define key research areas. With this in mind, the experts focused on two main areas: 1) the conceptual design of taxonomy; 2) the resulting recommendations for reorganising and expanding the structure of the research landscape in those fields relevant to taxonomy.

Both areas were considered from the perspective of: i) botany and mycology, ii) microbiology and medical microbiology, iii) zoology. The first area is mainly concerned with describing the status quo, identifying problems, and making innovative proposals for creating meaningful links between existing directions and concepts in taxonomy. The second area formulates a recommendation for the necessary structural changes (identified in the first area) which will ensure that implementing the new conceptual direction is a realistic endeavour.

Spokesperson of the Working Group

Prof. Dr. Rudolf Amann ML
Max-Planck-Institut für Marine Mikrobiologie Bremen, Abteilung Molekulare Ökologie

Members

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Braus
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Fakultät für Biologie und Psychologie, Abteilung Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Genetik
PD Dr. Birgit Gemeinholzer
Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, AG Spezielle Botanik
Prof. Dr. Jörg Hacker ML
Former President of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina – National Academy of Sciences, Halle (Saale)
Dr. Christoph Häuser
Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung Berlin
Dr. Regine Jahn
Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität Berlin
Dipl.-Biol. Volker Lohrmann
Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung Berlin
PD Dr. Carsten Lüter
Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung Berlin
Prof. Dr. Axel Meyer ML
Universität Konstanz, Fakultät Biologie, Lehrstuhl für Zoologie/Evolutionsbiologie
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof
Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Abteilung Molekulare Biodiversitätsforschung
Dr. Michael Raupach
Deutsches Zentrum für Marine Biodiversitätsforschung, Senckenberg am Meer Wilhelmshaven, Abteilung Molekulare Taxonomie
Prof. Dr. Susanne Renner ML
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fakultät für Biologie, Systematische Botanik und Mykologie
PD Dr. Christian Roos
Deutsches Primatenzentrum – Leibniz-Institut für Primatenforschung, Abteilung Primatengenetik
Dr. Ramon Rossello-Mora
Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies IMEDEA, Esporles, Spanien, Abteilung für Marine Mikrobiologie
Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Schleifer
Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt
Prof. Dr. Sebastian Suerbaum ML
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Krankenhaushygiene
Prof. Dr. Miguel Vences
Technische Universität Braunschweig, Zoologisches Institut
Prof. Dr. Johannes Vogel
Museum für Naturkunde Leibniz-Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung Berlin
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wägele
Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Bonn