Which one of the following statements is not true about the universal rules of binomial nomenclature? (NEET-2026)
Answer: (D) The first word in the biological name represents the specific epithet, while the second component denotes the genus. Answer: (D) — this statement is NOT true.
- A.Biological names are generally in Latin
- B.Both the words in a biological name, when handwritten, are separately underlined or printed in italics
- C.The specific epithet in the biological name starts with a small letter
- D.The first word in the biological name represents the specific epithet, while the second component denotes the genus✓
Correct Answer
(D) The first word in the biological name represents the specific epithet, while the second component denotes the genus
Solution & Explanation
Answer: (D) — this statement is NOT true. Solution: The rule is the reverse: the FIRST word denotes the GENUS and the SECOND word denotes the specific epithet. Option D inverts this, so it is the false statement. A, B and C are all correct rules of binomial nomenclature. NCERT Reference: Ch 1 The Living World, p.4, lines 42–44 — "The first word in a biological name represents the genus while the second component denotes the specific epithet."