01464nas a2200181   4500008004100000022001400041245006500055210006200120300001400182490000700196520094300203653000901146653001101155653001301166100002201179700002101201856006001222       2007                        eng d  a0066-417000aKeys and the Crisis in Taxonomy: Extinction or Reinvention?*0 aKeys and the Crisis in Taxonomy Extinction or Reinvention  a193–2080 v523 aAbstract Dichotomous keys that follow a single pathway of character state choices to an end point have been the primary tools for the identification of unknown organisms for more than two centuries. However, a revolution in computer diagnostics is now under way that may result in the replacement of traditional keys by matrix-based computer interactive keys that have many paths to a correct identification and make extensive use of hypertext to link to images, glossaries, and other support material. Progress is also being made on replacing keys entirely by optical matching of specimens to digital databases and DNA sequences. These new tools may go some way toward alleviating the taxonomic impediment to biodiversity studies and other ecological and evolutionary research, especially with better coordination between those who produce keys and those who use them and by integrating interactive keys into larger biological Web sites.10akeys10areview10ataxonomy1 aWalter, David, E.1 aWinterton, Shaun  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.ento.51.110104.151054