chemotaxonomy

[ kee-moh-tak-son-uh-mee, kem-oh- ]

noun

, Biochemistry, Biology.

1. the identification and classification of organisms by comparative analysis of their biochemical composition.

Other Words From

• che·mo·tax·o·nom·ic [kee-moh-tak-s, uh, -, nom, -ik, kem-oh-], chemo·taxo·nomi·cal adjective
• chemo·taxo·nomi·cal·ly adverb
• chemo·tax·ono·mist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of chemotaxonomy¹

First recorded in 1960–65; chemo- + taxonomy