# Clustering taxonomy sequences

**URL:** https://forum.qiime2.org/t/clustering-taxonomy-sequences/23784
**Category:** User Support
**Tags:** taxonomy
**Created:** [August 3, 2022, 10:53am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/clustering-taxonomy-sequences/23784 "2022-08-03T10:53:33Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 11

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### Author: ![SoilRotifer](https://forum.qiime2.org/user_avatar/forum.qiime2.org/soilrotifer/32/21071_2.png) [@SoilRotifer](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/SoilRotifer)
#### Post date: [August 4, 2022, 4:31pm UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/clustering-taxonomy-sequences/23784/11 "2022-08-04T16:31:41Z")

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> [@biojack](#):
>
> I looked in RESCRIPt `dereplicate` manual and there is already --p-perc-identity parameter. So probably it would be better use RESCRIPt for same purpose instead of vsearch? If it do the same thin

If your intent is to make a reference database based on clustered sequences, then yes you can use this approach. But if you are simply clustering your reads to generate OTUs for analyses, then you should use vsearch.

In general, we do not recommend clustering reads for the purposes of making a reference database as your ability to correctly assign taxonomy to your reads declines. This is covered in our [RESCRIPt manuscript](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009581). Usually, clustering reference sequences is performed to reduce the file and memory size of the reference database when computational resources are limited.

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