1.
Bergeys Mannual & Numerical Taxonomy
Harish. R
Assistant Professor
Department of Biosciences,
Mar Thoma College, Thiruvalla
hareesh@marthomacollege.org

2.
Polyphasic taxonomy
 Includes phenotypic, phylogenetic, genotypic feature and
Numerical Taxonomy.
 Phenetic system -which groups organisms together based on the
mutual similarity of their phenotypic characteristics.
 Phylogenetic classification : classified organism on the basis of
evolutionary relationship. (based of 16S rRNA sequences.
 Genotypic Classification: Organisms are classified on the basis
of genetic similarities.
 Numerical Taxonomy: (Peter H. A. Sneath and Robert Sokal) :
grouping by numerical methods of taxonomic units into taxa on
the basis of their character states.

3.
Numerical Taxonomy
Process begins with determination of presence or absence of
selected character in a group of organism under study.
Many characters at least 50, preferably >100 should be compared
for an accurate and reliable classification of organism.
Morphological character
Chemical character
Cultural character
Metabolic character
Antigenic character
Biochemical character
Physiological character
Ecological character
Association coefficient is a function that measures the agreement
between characters possessed by two organism

4.
Similarity matrix
Organisms with great similarity are grouped together and separated
from dissimilar organisms.Such groups of organisms are called
phenons

5.
The History and Evolution of Bergey’s
Manual
1. Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology
(1923-1994)
• 9 Editions (1 volume each )-These are mainly
phenetic
2. Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology:
• 1s t edition (4volumes);1984-1989; Mix
Phylogenetic/Phenetic-5 Kingdoms
• 2nd Edition (5 volumes) (2001-2012);Phylogenetic-
3 Domains

6.
Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology-
• First edition -Published in 4 volumes:
• Volume 1 (1984) -Gram-negative Bacteria of general,
medical, or industrial importance
• Volume 2 (1986) -Gram-positive Bacteria other than
Actinomycetes
• Volume 3 (1989) -Archaeobacteria, Cyanobacteria,
and remaining Gram-negative Bacteria
• Volume 4 (1989) -Actinomycetes

7.
13