Cue Column | Note Column
| Cue/Question | Notes |
|---|---|
| Who and when? | Carolus Linnaeus, "Systema Naturae" (1758, 10th edition = standard reference date). |
| Two-part name components? | Part 1: Genus name (capitalized first letter). Part 2: Specific epithet (all lowercase). |
| Print format? | Both words italicized: Homo sapiens, Mangifera indica. |
| Handwriting format? | Each word underlined SEPARATELY: Homo sapiens (two distinct underlines — NOT one continuous line). |
| Language requirement? | Latin or Latinized — ensures universal stability. |
| Author citation? | Author name abbreviated after species: Mangifera indica Linn. "Linn." is NOT part of the binomial. |
| Example 1? | Housefly: Musca domestica |
| Example 2? | Human: Homo sapiens |
| Example 3? | Mango: Mangifera indica Linn. |
| Example 4? | Wheat: Triticum aestivum |
Summary
The GULL mnemonic: Genus capitalized, Underline separately, Latin/Latinized, Lowercase species epithet. The most frequently tested rule in NEET is the separate underlining — a single continuous underline is the most common error. Author names (e.g., Linn. for Linnaeus) are citation credits, not part of the two-part binomial name.