From:	IN%"emg13@cornell.edu" 13-JUN-1996 09:38:44.53

To:	IN%"CYANO-TOX@desire.wright.edu"

CC:	

Subj:	Cyanobacteria or cyanobacteria



There seems to be some confusion how to spell CYANOBACTERIA in publications,

capitalized (Cyanobacteria) or lower case (cyanobacteria).



I suspect getting recommendations for both, but would like to see some pro

and con arguments.



Best,

Elisabeth







From:	IN%"CYANO@servms.fiu.edu"  "JEFF ELHAI" 18-JUN-1996 01:03:32.16

To:	IN%"cyano-tox@desire.wright.edu"

CC:	

Subj:	To C or not to C



Elisabeth Gross remarked:



> There seems to be some confusion how to spell CYANOBACTERIA in publications,

> capitalized (Cyanobacteria) or lower case (cyanobacteria).



      I'm surprised at this perception. I thought "cyanobacteria" and related

      words were always spelled with a lower case c when no general

      consideration demanded its capitalization, except when "Cyanobacteria"

      is used as part a formal description of the strain (e.g. "Prokaryotae;

      Gracilicutes; Oxyphotobacteria; Cyanobacteria; Chroococcales;

      Synechococcus)"). In normal usage (e.g. "Spectra were recorded for three

      different cyanobacteria:...) the word, I believe, is not specifically

      capitalized. I myself wouldn't think of capitalizing the word, any more

      than I would capitalize "gymnosperm" or "bacterium".



      While a random search of a dozen articles appears to support my belief,

      with no opposing examples, the definitive word should, perhaps, come

      from the taxonomists amongst us.



             Jeff Elhai

  Department of Biological Sciences          (Tel) 305-348-3584

  Florida International University           (Fax) 305-348-1986

       University Park Campus           (E-mail) Cyano@Servax.Fiu.Edu

       Miami FL 33199  U.S.A.