Latest news with #Peromyscus
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A bottlenose dolphin? Or Tursiops truncatus? Why biologists give organisms those strange, unpronounceable names
Most people would call it a 'field mouse,' but a scientist would ask, 'Was it Peromyscus maniculatus? Or Peromyscus leucopus?' Scientists use a system of complicated-sounding names to refer to everyday creatures, a practice heavily lampooned in the Warner Bros. cartoons featuring the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote – or, respectively, Accelleratii incredibus and Carnivorous vulgaris. As a biologist, I use these seemingly odd names myself and help my students learn them. For most people it's a huge effort, like learning a second language. That's because it is. The science of naming and classifying organisms is called taxonomy. Scientists do this so they can be as precise as possible when discussing living things. The first word in an organism's name is its genus, which is a group of related species, such as Panthera for lions, tigers and leopards. The second word is the specific name identifying the species, usually defined as a population that can reproduce only with each other, such as Panthera leo for lion. Every two-word combination must be unique. Called binomial nomenclature, this naming system was popularized by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in the 1700s. So, humans are Homo sapiens, the red maple Acer rubrum, garlic Allium sativum, and the eastern spotted skunk Spilogale putorius. Today, biologists maintain huge databases containing the taxonomic names of plants, animals, fungi and other organisms. For instance, one of these databases – the Open Tree of Life project – includes over 2.3 million species. The scientist who discovers a species usually names it by publishing a formal description in a peer-reviewed journal. From there, the name makes its way into the databases. From then on, scientists always use that name for the organism, even if it turns out to be misleading. For example, many fossils were originally given names containing the Greek root 'saur,' which means lizard – even though paleontologists later realized dinosaurs were not lizards. To most people, these names sound inscrutable. Particularly nowadays, as science becomes more open and accessible to everyone, such arcane vocabulary can come across as old-fashioned and elitist. Given the current backlash against 'elites' and 'experts' in every field, that's a serious charge. But in a roundabout way, this seemingly exclusive practice is really a story of inclusiveness. As modern science began taking shape in Europe during the 1600s, scientists had a problem. They wanted to read and be read by others, but language got in the way. French scientists couldn't read Swedish, Swedes couldn't read Italian, and Italians couldn't read German. Also, writing about plants and animals posed a particular challenge: Many species had common names that could vary from place to place, and some common names might apply to multiple species. Scientists needed a way to be precise and consistent when referring to species, so that everyone could understand each other. To sidestep the language issue, scientists of the era mostly published their work in classical Latin. Back then, everyone learned it – at least every European man wealthy enough to attend school and become a scientist. Others published in classical Greek, also widely taught. By sticking with these more universally known languages, early scientists made sure that science was accessible to as many of their peers as possible. By the late 1700s and 1800s, translation services were broadly available, so naturalists such as Georges Cuvier could write in his native French, and Charles Darwin in his native English. Today, English has become the de facto language for science, so most scientists publish in English regardless of their native tongue. So why continue to use Latin and Greek names today? Taxonomists do it partly out of tradition, but partly because the terminology is still useful. Even without seeing a photo of the animal, a biologist might work out that Geomys bursarius – 'earth-mouse with a pouch' – was a pocket gopher. Or that Reithrodontomys fulvescens – 'groove-toothed mouse that is yellow' – is a yellow mouse with grooves on its incisors. Although taxonomists still largely adhere to the naming principles of Linnaeus, new scientific names are more and more frequently derived from non-European languages. For example, a chicken-size dinosaur discovered and named in China is called Yi qi, meaning 'strange wing' in Mandarin. Some of the more recent names are touched by whimsy, with a few honoring politicians and celebrities. Etheostoma obama is a spangled darter named after the 44th U.S. president; the Swift twisted-claw millipede – Nannaria swiftae – is named after pop star Taylor Swift. With so much of Earth's biodiversity yet to be discovered and named, remember that names are just names. What we call these species often reflects our own values and perspectives. In the future, another language – or no language at all – might rise to dominance. Artificial intelligence may act as a universal translator. This possibility would let everyone publish and read science in their own language. Predicting how technology will change our relationship with terminology is challenging, but the need for precise scientific language, including the names of species, will never go away. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Nicholas Green, Kennesaw State University Read more: How many types of insects are there in the world? Thousands of undiscovered mammal species may be hidden in plain sight, new research finds Scientists discover five new species of black corals living thousands of feet below the ocean surface near the Great Barrier Reef Nicholas Green does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Forbes
07-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Hantavirus Killed Three More People—How You Can Stay Safe
Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), a possible transmitter of the Hantavirus, 1990. Image courtesy ... More Centers for Disease Control (CDC). (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) To everyone's surprise, the virus that killed Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa in February was found to be hantavirus, an uncommon viral infection spread by rodents. Arakawa had called a clinic for feeling 'congested' and was given an appointment. She did not keep that and was later found dead in her home, along with her husband, the prominent actor. Later in February, three more deaths from hantavirus were reported from Mammoth Lakes, California. There was also a cluster of hanta isolates in San Diego in 2018. The first cluster of deaths was noted in 1993 when there were sudden deaths among healthy young people in the Four Corners area of the southwest. They all died from overwhelming lung infection and respiratory failure. Hantavirus infections were found in the deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) living around the homes of those who were ill. The CDC named this strain Sin Nombre virus. This case was fascinating because the clues to solving these mysterious deaths came from Navaho elders. They were attuned to patterns in nature and had noted earlier cyclical clusters of deaths. Why? Each cycle followed a year of increased rainfall (an El Niño year). The abundance of rain meant that there was more food available for the deer mice, whose populations exploded. When there were more mice, people living nearby had more exposure to the rodent urine and droppings, and cases would increase. The Navaho elders were at the forefront of linking changes in climate to infections. Between 1993 and 2022, there were 864 cases of hantavirus reported in the U.S. Almost all the cases were hanta pulmonary infections. The mean age was 39, with 62% male. Most (94%) of the cases occurred west of the Mississippi; 15% were in Hispanic/Latino individuals. The death rate is 34%. There was another notable cluster in 2012 in people staying in tent cabins in Yosemite. Careful epidemiologic investigation found deer mice nesting in the foam of the tent walls. Three of the ten infected died; others were critically ill. Notably, two of the infected patients were from the East Coast, where one would not usually think of hantavirus. The first case of infection on the East Coast was in 1993, when a hiker along the Appalachian Trail became critically ill with multi-organ failure. He became infected from mouse droppings or urine in the shelters he had camped at along the trail. There are other unusual exposures that are often overlooked. I found a hantavirus case in a young construction worker who's job was laying pipes in the ground near Pittsburgh. There was an outbreak of a related hantavirus, Seoul virus, among people who owned pet Norway rats. Mice commonly nest in cars or campers and these can cause hantavirus infections. It's critically important to clean these areas properly and not to aerosolize the droppings or nest materials. A variety of mice and rats serve as the host of hantavirus. Even though the rodents may be asymptomatic, they shed the virus in their urine, droppings, and saliva. People commonly become infected by inhaling virus-laden contaminated air. People can also become infected by touching infected secretions, and then inoculating themselves by touching their nose, mouth, or eyes with contaminated hands. Hanta is not transmitted from person to person. Hantaviruses are most common in the southwest U.S.; we likely have overlooked them elsewhere simply because we don't look for it. Anyone exposed to mouse droppings is at risk. The highest risk for hantavirus infection is when the aerosolized virus is inhaled, so please don't vacuum or sweep an area contaminated with rodent droppings or secretions unless you have first saturated it with a 1:9 Clorox solution. Hantavirus presents with nondescript symptoms—'congestion,' muscle aches, fever, headache and fatigue. Symptoms begin 1-8 weeks after exposure. They then often progress to more pulmonary symtoms, with cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Many of those infected develop respiratory failure as their lungs fill with fluid and more than a third die. Diagnosing hantavirus is difficult, as most often, it won't be considered until someone develops respiratory failure. Physicians are under increased time constraints, often limited to 15' for a routine appointment. They are unlikely to take a careful, detailed epidemiologic history during this period. Diagnosis is made by sending blood samples to the CDC. It's unknown what their backlog of testing will be now that staffing has been severely cut. There have been massive firings throughout divisions of Health and Human Services. These included 1300 probationary workers at the CDC, including all 50 first-year officers of the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service. The EIS is the crown jewel of the CDC, and is essential for identifying new pathogens and solving disease outbreaks. Apparently DOGE rescinded these firings. Thousands more jobs (2400, or 18%) were cut last week; it's unclear what divisions were cut. (Note, I reached out to the CDC for comment; none was received as of the time of publication There is no effective treatment for hantavirus. Patients are given supportive treatment with fluids and oxygen, mechanical ventilation, and blood pressure support for sepsis. The most important public health message is not to aerosolize droppings. When you are cleaning, spray the site and debris thoroughly with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 part water, wait five minutes, then pick up what is left with a paper towel. Spray and wipe up again. Do not vacuum or sweep up droppings! If you are working in your car engine, disconnect the battery first. You might need a mechanic if filter and air hoses need to be replaced. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning droppings up. If you want to be extra safe, wear a mask while cleaning the area. Hantavirus infections are rare. They are likely to occur after winters with abundant rainfall and good crop growth in the spr that will feed mouse populations and enable them to grow. If you become ill after contact with rodent droppings or after any travel, be sure to tell your physician.
