9. Spelling and gender of names of taxa.
a. The original spelling of a name or epithet must be retained, except in the case of a typographical error or of a clearly unintentional orthographic error. It may be difficult to determine when a typographical or orthographic error has occurred. In cases where there is doubt it is advisable to ask the Judicial Commission to consider the matter and to render an OPINION which will be authoritative.
b. The gender of generic names is determined as follows:
- (1) A Greek or Latin word adopted as a generic name retains the gender of the Greek or Latin.
- (2) Generic names which are modern compounds formed from two or more Greek or Latin words take the gender of the last component. If the ending is changed from that of the original Greek or Latin word, the gender is determined by the rules of gender of the Greek or Latin respectively.
- (3) Arbitrarily formed generic names, i.e., those not formed from Latin or Greek, take the gender assigned to them by their authors. Where the original author did not indicate the gender, the next subsequent author has the right of choice.
10. Provisions for exceptions to the rules or for their interpretation.
Whenever, in the opinion of any microbiologist, an interpretation of any rule or recommendation of nomenclature is desirable because the correct application of such rule or recommendation is doubtful, or the stability of nomenclature could be increased by the conservation or by the rejection of some name which is a source of confusion or error, it is recommended that he prepare a résumé outlining the problem, citing pertinent references, and indicating reasons for and against specific interpretations. This résumé should be submitted to the Chairman of the Judicial Commission; if desired, through one of the Permanent Secretaries. An OPINION will be formulated, which may not be issued until it has been approved by at least eight members of the Commission.
Before the preparation of an OPINION, a preliminary statement is usually published in the International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy, the official organ of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature, Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa, U. S. A.
Those who are interested in the solution of special nomenclatural problems have open to them as an avenue of communication and publication the columns of the International Bulletin. The Board of Editors includes the chairman of the Judicial Commission and the two permanent secretaries. Requests for assistance in the solution of bacteriological nomenclatural problems may be sent to any member of the Editorial Board at the following addresses:
- Prof. R. E. Buchanan, Chairman of Judicial Commission and of the Editorial Board. Room 316 Curtiss Hall, Iowa State College, Ames, Iowa, U. S. A.
- Dr. S. T. Cowan, Permanent Secretary of the International Committee and of the Judicial Commission. National Collection of Type Cultures, Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London, N.W. 9, England.
