%0 Journal Article %A DIJKSHOORN, L. %A URSING, B.M. %A URSING, J.B. %T Strain, clone and species: comments on three basic concepts of bacteriology %D 2000 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 49 %N 5 %P 397-401 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/0022-1317-49-5-397 %I Microbiology Society, %X Different aspects of the terms strain, clone and species are discussed. The term strain is commonly used to denote a pure culture – here called ‘the strain in the taxonomic sense’ – but does also refer to a natural concept closely related to the clone. The term clone on the other hand is used both in a general and in a more restricted sense, the latter indicating a low degree of genetic exchange. The important distinction between the definition of a species and the criteria for a species is emphasised and the main kinds of criteria are considered. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/0022-1317-49-5-397