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Glite Dictionary
🧬 Antibody class 🌱 Duplicate specimen 🔤 Information symbol
isotype

isotype

9.9
A duplicate plant sample collected with the main specimen and kept in a plant collection for study
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪsəˌtaɪp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : isotipo
  • After fieldwork, the researchers submitted an isotype of the newly discovered plant to the herbarium for documentation.

Examples

  • Each isotype collected alongside the original specimen helps ensure accurate identification in various studies.

  • The botanist explained that an isotype serves as an important reference for future studies of the holotype specimen.

  • You can split a holotype to form an isotype which is part of that holotype.

Surface Forms

isotype singular
isotypes plural

Morphology

isotype = type (semi-transparent) = iso + type

The form is transparently based on iso- 'same' + type, but the taxonomic specimen sense is a specialized scientific term.

Etymology

Isotype joins the prefix iso- meaning 'same' and type meaning 'kind', so it means a 'same kind' example. In botany an isotype is a duplicate of the main specimen (the holotype) collected at the same time and kept as a reference, which is why it serves as a backup for study.