Is keying literally the deadest art (science) in biology? I

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>>2047337
I know I can google it, but I'm bumping your thread for interest. Wot is keying?

>>2047359
http://www.insectidentification.org/insect-key.asp

>>2047384
Wait... This is just to tell insects from arachnids? If so this a troll thread.

>>2047337
well we haven't named most of the insect species out there yet, so it's a bit premature to think anyone cares enough to sequence the genome of the ones we know of.

Also, while dna is an exciting thing and all, it doesn't tell us much about paleospecies which are still diagnosed entirely off gross morphology.

So not really dead. Still very much in use. Good luck finding a job doing it though.

>>2047406
Im Australian. There a fuck ton of islands i can go explore.

Whats the job situation like where you're from?

>>2047405
it's a flowchart for ID'ing animals using visible features. It starts off really general and moves toward more specific as you answer questions.

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>>2047405
ok smarty pants, a better example. http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20o?guide=Insect_orders

>>2047408
US, what you're talking about would here would be a research position which are fairly difficult to get and don't move very quickly in any direction if you manage to win one.

we've got a field researcher here that stops in sometime on /an/.

Vosh is studying spiders atm. Perhaps he can advise if he sees this.

>>2047411
Found a decent sized one outside the other day, they're so cool

Reading this thread :)

Realizing what it will turn into when you know who arrives :(

>>2047419
he's actually extremely knowledgeable about spider morphology and systematics.

this is the sort of thread where he shines.

>>2047409
>>2047411
Wasn't trying to be smart. Its just when I seen that first link I was like "really?", but the second link was a lot more informative.

>>2047411
Btw >>2047424 here. Thanks for the link

>>2047337

It has to be used in combination with the genetics now. The problem with keying, especially with insects is that the morphology between species can be extreme.

Genetics also struggles. No one is going to spend thousands on checking the DNA of 10 similar species of wasp when their is millions of species.

>>2047406

"which are still diagnosed entirely off gross morphology."..

With intense debate.

*Cough* feathered dinosaurs

>>2047457
there's very little actual debate about feathered dinosaurs in science.

it's more of a fanboy argument.

>>2047456
Isn't dna harvesting and archiving much cheaper?

What's the most well recognized archive/university key criteria for insects know?

Also, Zookeys is pretty interesting. http://zookeys.pensoft.net/about#Editorial-Policies