A NEW DATA MODEL FOR BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

In the domain of biological classification, classifications are perfor med hierarchically. There are no standard classifications which are un animously accepted by the community of each domain; many different int eracting views of classification exist about the same data, and the di scovery of new data results in changes to the existing classification. Even a single individual may change his or her own classification of a particular group. Since multiple classification views interact, they are semantically related. It is difficult to model this kind of dynam ically evolving and semantically interacting classification system usi ng traditional data models, which lack the structural flexibility nece ssary to support dynamic views of hierarchic classifications, and cann ot properly capture the history of these complex inter-actions. We hav e developed a new data model which is suitable for supporting semantic ally interacting dynamic views of hierarchic biological classification s. On the basis of our new data model rye have developed a prototype d atabase system called HICLAS (HIerarchial CLAssification System); its domain is plant taxonomy. HICLAS is available through the Internet and an X-window interface has been implemented to support queries to clas sification data.