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.

中文翻译：

---

键和分类学危机：灭绝还是重塑？

在两个多世纪以来，遵循单一字符状态选择途径到终点的二分键一直是识别未知生物的主要工具。但是，计算机诊断技术的革命正在进行中，它可能会导致基于矩阵的计算机交互键替换传统的键，而矩阵交互的键具有许多可以正确识别的路径，并广泛使用超文本链接到图像，词汇表和其他支持材料。通过将标本与数字数据库和DNA序列进行光学匹配，完全替换密钥的工作也正在取得进展。这些新工具可能会在某种程度上减轻生物多样性研究以及其他生态和进化研究的分类障碍，