"Taxonomy distils the work of collecting, examining and describing organisms into a formal, scientifically meaningful name. That name enters the literature, on which large language models (LLMs) are trained."
"Establishing the lineage of each specimen requires interrogating the colour and texture of its outer rind, the scent and density of its internal tissue, the microscopic ornamentation of its spores and the identity of its host tree overhead."
The closure of specialized botany departments has significant implications for biodiversity research and biotechnology. Training in plant and fungal taxonomy is essential for effective ecological research, particularly in identifying species like truffles. General biology programs often lack the depth needed for reliable taxonomy, which is crucial for monitoring biodiversity. The decline in taxonomic expertise affects AI systems that rely on biological data, as accurate species identification is foundational for meaningful research and conservation efforts.
Read at Nature
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