From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A specimen is a portion or quantity of material for use in testing, examination, or study.^[1]

In biology

A laboratory specimen is an individual animal, part of an animal, plant, part of a plant, or microorganism used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species or subspecies. When a taxon is described, it is typically based on a single specimen, then referred to as the holotype.

In medical laboratory

• A sample taken from a patient, most frequently blood, urine, or semen.

In rocks, gems, and minerals

• A piece of a type of rock, gem, or mineral taken from the earth. This can be anything from a jasper to a diamond.

In typography

• A type specimen is a publication that shows the available glyphs in a typeface, including variations used for ligatures and special ornaments.

• In handwriting recognition, forensic handwriting analysis and signature verification, the term sample refers to a specimen of handwriting.

• Central Banks send so-called specimen banknote (or specimens) to other banks before issuing a new banknote. To avoid its use as a legal tender note the banknote is perforated or punched, given a serial number of .9999999999(all nines) or 0000000000 (all zeroes) or is overprinted with the word "Specimen" or "Cancelled" in any language.

References

• Hauser, Steiner, Holstein & Scoble. eds. 2005. Digital Imaging of Biological Type Specimens: A Manual of Best Practice. State Museum of Natural History. ISBN 3000172408