In binomial nomenclature, the two-part scientific name includes the genus and species.

• A. The two-part scientific name includes the genus and species
• B. The two-part scientific name uses only the family and genus
• C. The two-part scientific name uses only the species epithet
• D. The two-part scientific name includes order and family

Answer: (A)

In binomial nomenclature, each species is given a two-part name to provide a unique identifier. The first part is the genus, a group of closely related species, and the second part is the specific epithet, which distinguishes the species within that genus. Together, the genus name and the specific epithet form the unique scientific name for that species, and they are typically written in italics with the genus capitalized (for example, Homo sapiens). The genus sets the broader group, while the specific epithet specifies the exact species within that genus.

Using only the species epithet would be ambiguous, because the same epithet can occur in different genera. Relying on family, order, or any single part alone wouldn’t uniquely identify a species either, since those higher taxonomic levels include many genera and species. The two-part format—genus plus specific epithet—provides a precise, universally recognized name for each species.