Use of Nucleic-Acid Homologies in the Taxonomy of Anaerobic Bacteria

Abstract

Nucleic acid homology studies are providing a common base for establishing bacterial groups. Few phenotypic characteristics have consistently correlated with homology data among the various groups of organisms that we have investigated. However, there are correlations that are specific for a given group of bacteria such that nucleic-acid homology data can be used to select those phenotypic properties that will be most useful for identification and taxonomic purposes.