You have isolated a microbe from an environmental sample. The microbe has the ability to perform a new metabolic reaction at a very low temperature, so you are excited that it could be a new species

Question

What experiments should you perform to determine if your isolate is truly a new species? What process will you follow to officially name your isolate?
What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer: Experiments to determine the isolate's characteristics and distinguishing traits must be performed which, among others, involve a series of biochemical and physiological tests. The morphology and cell wall structure should also be determined. To define it as a species and determine its relationship to other organisms the SSU rRNA and DNA:DNA hybridization values in comparison to closely related organisms must be determined. If the isolate is sufficiently different, viable cultures must be sent to at least two international culture collections. A manuscript can then be published describing the organism and a proposed genus and species name.