Taxonomic database structure

[Doug Yanega]

Geoff read wrote:

>Doug Yanega once wrote:
>" ...Since we're dealing with a hierarchy, it's
>possible to  get by with just a single table.  It needs only have the
>taxon  identifier  (name, id number, whatever) and the corresponding
>identifier for its  parent.   Of course, that parent has a parent, on
>down/up to the most inclusive  taxon in your database.  We're using
>Oracle as our RDBMS and it has a nice  SQL add-on  feature that
>facilitates traversing such hierarchies."

Just a note that while the first sentence is mine, the sentences
thereafter, as I recall, belong to Norm Johnson. Credit where credit is
due. I shoot my mouth off enough, though, I can see how the mistake might
be made... ;-)

Peace,

Doug Yanega    Depto. de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciencias Biologicas,
Univ. Fed. de Minas Gerais, Cx.P. 486, 30.161-970 Belo Horizonte, MG   BRAZIL
phone: 031-448-1223, fax: 031-44-5481  (from U.S., prefix 011-55)
                  http://www.icb.ufmg.br/~dyanega/
  "There are some enterprises in which a careful disorderliness
        is the true method" - Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chap. 82