Serotaxonomy: Definition,
History and Roles in Plant
Taxonomy
,Definition of Serotaxonomy:
• Serology is defined as that portion of biology, which is concerned with the
nature and interactions of antigenic material and antibodies.
• Smith (1976) defined it as “the study of the origins and properties of
antisera.” When foreign cells or particles (antigens) are introduced into an
organism, antibodies are produced in the blood (antiserum).
• The substance capable of stimulating the formation of an antibody is called
antigen and the highly specific protein molecule produced by plasma cells
in the immune system in response to the antigen is called antibody.
, • Proteins most widely used as antigens in serotaxonomy are those,
which carry useful taxonomic information and are easy to handle.
• Both structural and reserve proteins can be used in the field of
systematics, as long as they belong to the same group and the same
organs are always compared.
• Generally, storage proteins are most amenable for taxonomic studie
followed by pollen proteins.
• Stem tubers, algal cells, fern spores, fruits and leaves can also be
employed as satisfactory antigenic material for systematic
investigations.
History and Roles in Plant
Taxonomy
,Definition of Serotaxonomy:
• Serology is defined as that portion of biology, which is concerned with the
nature and interactions of antigenic material and antibodies.
• Smith (1976) defined it as “the study of the origins and properties of
antisera.” When foreign cells or particles (antigens) are introduced into an
organism, antibodies are produced in the blood (antiserum).
• The substance capable of stimulating the formation of an antibody is called
antigen and the highly specific protein molecule produced by plasma cells
in the immune system in response to the antigen is called antibody.
, • Proteins most widely used as antigens in serotaxonomy are those,
which carry useful taxonomic information and are easy to handle.
• Both structural and reserve proteins can be used in the field of
systematics, as long as they belong to the same group and the same
organs are always compared.
• Generally, storage proteins are most amenable for taxonomic studie
followed by pollen proteins.
• Stem tubers, algal cells, fern spores, fruits and leaves can also be
employed as satisfactory antigenic material for systematic
investigations.
