Names are obtained by identification of specimens, and identifications are made by matching attributes of unknown with known organisms. While everyone makes some identifications, for diverse and little known organisms, such as insects, identifications are made by systematists. Specimens and their associated literature form collections. From specimens, people derived data on which classifications are based. Classifications and associated information are documented in publications.
Specimens thereby become vouchers for the published classifications and information.
So, from collections comes research from which useful services are provided, all of which are based on people working together in natural history museums. When specimens have been identified they become vouchers. Vouchers are useful as the data derived from them can be associated and analysed with that from other vouchers. Hence, our knowledge of the living world is built. Scientific Names Scientific names are tags, unique keys, hierarchical nodes, and phylogenetic hypotheses.