Scientists developed this Microbiology Dichotomous key for bacteria to assist scientists and laypeople in identifying objects and organisms. A Microbiology Dichotomous key for bacteria for identifying a specific object type typically consists of a particular series of questions. The key directs the user to the next question when one question is answered. Because each species has a unique scientific name, dichotomous keys typically emphasize identifying species by their scientific name. Common terms for organisms, on the other hand, such as "white oak," "chipmunk," or "penguin," frequently refer to several different species that look similar to one another.
