Difference between revisions of "Relating taxa to phenotypes"
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A taxon X ''exhibits'' phenotype Y if phenotype Y has been observed in some organism which is a member of taxon X. | A taxon X ''exhibits'' phenotype Y if phenotype Y has been observed in some organism which is a member of taxon X. | ||
===Discussion=== | ===Discussion=== | ||
| − | In an ideal world, all phenotype annotations would be directly to some organism specimen where the phenotype was observed. However, for various reasons direct specimen annotation is not feasible in practice. So, we create phenotype annotations for "leaf" taxa, species. | + | In an ideal world, all phenotype annotations would be directly to some organism specimen where the phenotype was observed. However, for various reasons direct specimen annotation is not feasible in practice. So, we create phenotype annotations for "leaf" taxa, species. As the given definition suggests, ''exhibits'' statements do not preclude polymorphism within the taxon. Some member organsims of that taxon may have one phenotype while others may have another. For example: |
| + | * Species X ''exhibits'' "round dorsal fin" | ||
| + | is not in conflict with another annotation: | ||
| + | * Species X ''exhibits'' "pointed dorsal fin" | ||
[[Category:Reasoning]] | [[Category:Reasoning]] | ||
[[Category:Ontology]] | [[Category:Ontology]] | ||
[[Category:EQ Annotation]] | [[Category:EQ Annotation]] | ||
Revision as of 17:32, 4 February 2009
In Phenoscape, we are annotating the phenotypes of species, as described in systematic literature. Because we are working within an ontological framework, we require a well-defined relation to link a taxon to a phenotype. This page describes the properties of, and issues related to, our proposed relation, exhibits.
Defining exhibits
Proposed definition
A taxon X exhibits phenotype Y if phenotype Y has been observed in some organism which is a member of taxon X.
Discussion
In an ideal world, all phenotype annotations would be directly to some organism specimen where the phenotype was observed. However, for various reasons direct specimen annotation is not feasible in practice. So, we create phenotype annotations for "leaf" taxa, species. As the given definition suggests, exhibits statements do not preclude polymorphism within the taxon. Some member organsims of that taxon may have one phenotype while others may have another. For example:
- Species X exhibits "round dorsal fin"
is not in conflict with another annotation:
- Species X exhibits "pointed dorsal fin"
