[CPN] next set of CBM-related proposals

    Mike Keesey keesey at gmail.com
    Sun Oct 28 19:36:27 EDT 2012 
    On Sun, Oct 28, 2012 at 3:20 PM, de Queiroz, Kevin < deQueirozK at si.edu 
> wrote:
> I do not favor Mike's proposed revision (of the definition of "taxon") for the following reason:  some people view clades/higher taxa not as monophyletic groups of organisms but as monophyletic groups of species.  Thus, saying that a taxon is a group of organisms is like saying that a family is a group of cells, which is true in a sense but emphasizes the wrong level of organization.  The proposed wording "a group of organisms or species" is designed to be neutral with respect to the question of whether a taxon is a monophyletic group or organisms or a monophyletic group of species, which is the reason that it has to mention both. 
I almost sent it as, "A group of organisms or populations...".
-- 
T. Michael Keesey http://tmkeesey.net/
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