Släktet

Släktet, in biology, is the taxonomic rank used to classify a group of closely related organisms. It sits above species and below family, and is the basis for the scientific binomial name of species. The genus name is the first part of the binomial, e.g., Homo sapiens, Canis lupus.

Naming conventions: The genus name is capitalized and, in print, typically italicized. A genus may contain one or more species; the set of species in a genus is not fixed and can change with new evidence. Each genus has a type species that anchors its name.

Examples: Släktet Homo includes humans and closely related extinct species; släktet Canis includes domestic dog, gray wolf, coyote; släktet Rosa includes roses.

Delimitation and evolution: Genus boundaries reflect evolutionary relationships but are not always stable; revisions occur as phylogenetic data accumulate. Some genera are monotypic (only one species); others are large and diverse. The genus is a practical unit for communication, taxonomy, and study.

History and usage: The concept originates in Linnaeus's system of binomial nomenclature in the 18th century; remains central to taxonomy in biology, botany, and zoology. The word släktet also appears in everyday Swedish to mean family lineage, though in science it has a precise taxonomic meaning.