Abstract
THE differences between species of animals and of plants are ultimately chemical, and Ford1 has shown in butterflies that classification based upon morphology corresponds with chemical differences in pigments. The distinction between two species within a genus must be due, in part at least, to differences between their proteins. Such differences cannot be shown by ordinary chemical methods, but in the case of one protein, namely, hæmoglobin, differences have lately been found by spectroscopic means between several species of the crustacean genus Daphnia2. In this genus it has long been a matter of discussion as to whether the species D. obtusa Kurz is really worthy of specific rank or is merely a variety of D. pulex (De Geer). Scourfield has, however, recently discovered a new, clear-cut morphological distinction between the two forms which confirms the specific rank of D. obtusa3. In these circumstances it is particularly interesting to find that their haemoglobins also differ2. Another such instance of spectroscopic evidence in a case of doubtful specificity can now be reported.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Ford, E. B., Proc. Roy. Ent. Soc. Lond., 16, 65 (1941); 17, 87 (1942); 19, 92 (1944); Trans. Boy. Ent. Soc. Lond., 94, 201 (1944).
Fox, H. M., Nature, 156, 475 (1945).
Scourfleld, D. J., Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., 9, 202 (1942).
Ewer, D. W., J. Mar. Biol. Assoc. U.K., in the press.
Fox, H. M., Proc. Roy. Soc, B, 99, 199 (1926).
Fox, H. M., Nature, 156, 18 (1945).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
FOX, H. Chemical Taxonomy. Nature 157, 511 (1946). https://doi.org/10.1038/157511a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/157511a0
This article is cited by
-
GAGE is a method for identification of plant species based on whole genome analysis and genome editing
Communications Biology (2022)
-
Chlorocruorin and Hæmoglobin
Nature (1947)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.