Using Population Genetic Theory and DNA Sequences for Species Detection and Identification in Asexual Organisms

C. William Birky Jr; Joshua Adams; Marlea Gemmel; Julia Perry

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010609

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Peer-reviewed

Research Article

Using Population Genetic Theory and DNA Sequences for Species Detection and Identification in Asexual Organisms

C. William Birky Jr ,

* E-mail: birky@u.arizona.edu

Affiliations Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Sciences West, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America, Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Genetics, Biological Sciences West, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
⨯
Joshua Adams,

Current address: Mt. Prospect, Illinois, United States of America

Affiliation Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Sciences West, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
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Marlea Gemmel,

Affiliation Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Sciences West, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
⨯
Julia Perry

Current address: Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America

Affiliation Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Biological Sciences West, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
⨯

Using Population Genetic Theory and DNA Sequences for Species Detection and Identification in Asexual Organisms

C. William Birky Jr,
Joshua Adams,
Marlea Gemmel,
Julia Perry

Published: May 13, 2010
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010609

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Conceptual and operational definitions

Posted by Birky on 21 Jul 2010 at 22:26 GMT

However, problems can arise when DNA sequences, phenotypes, or any other data are used for species detection without using a well-defined species concept or model of what species are. Assigning DNA sequences (and the individuals from which they are taken) to species will be an arbitrary and biologically meaningless exercise unless it is done with an operational species criterion corresponding to a rigorous theoretical model.
http://plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0010609#article1.body1.sec1.p3

A Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_definition) distinguishes conceptual definitions from operational definitions. Our model of species corresponds to a conceptual definition of species, while our species criterion (4x rule or K/θ method) is an operation definition.

No competing interests declared.

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Using Population Genetic Theory and DNA Sequences for Species Detection and Identification in Asexual Organisms

Using Population Genetic Theory and DNA Sequences for Species Detection and Identification in Asexual Organisms

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Conceptual and operational definitions

Posted by Birky on 21 Jul 2010 at 22:26 GMT