Phylogenetic Relationships of Bears (the Ursidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

The phylogenetic relationships among some bear species are still open questions. We present here mitochondrial DNA sequences of D-loop region, cytochrome b, 12S rRNA, tRNA^Pro, and tRNA^Thr genes from all bear species and the giant panda. A series of evolutionary trees with concordant topology has been derived based on the combined data set of all of the mitochondrial DNA sequences, which may have resolved the evolutionary relationships of all bear species: the ancestor of the spectacled bear diverged first, followed by the sloth bear; the brown bear and polar bear are sister taxa relative to the Asiatic black bear; the closest relative of the American black bear is the sun bear. Primers for forensic identification of the giant panda and bears are proposed. Analysis of these data, in combination with data from primates and antelopes, suggests that relative substitutional rates between different mitochondrial DNA regions may vary greatly among different taxa of the vertebrates.     

Phylogenetic Relationships among Bufonoid Frogs (Anura: Neobatrachia) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

Nucleotide sequences of portions of the mitochondrial 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes were used to extend a recent study of anuran phylogeny (Hayet al., Mol. Biol. Evol.12: 928–937, 1995) and to further evaluate phylogenetic relationships within the Neobatrachia. An analysis of almost 900 nucleotides from each of 8 new representatives of the Dendrobatidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, and Myobatrachidae, plus 14 available members of the Neobatrachia provides support for 2 major lineages (Bufonoidea and Ranoidea) within this anuran suborder. The neotropical Bufonoidea and their derivatives are monophyletic. There is an interesting association of the 2 Australian myobatrachids with the South African Heleophrynidae, and the Sooglossidae is one of the basal bufonoid lineages. Within the New World bufonoid frogs, a monophyletic Dendrobatidae is strongly supported. An Australian hylid (Pelodryadinae) shows close affinity with the South American hylid Phyllomedusinae. A group composed of Hylinae (HylaandSmilisca), Centrolenidae, Bufonidae, and the hylid Hemiphractinae, with the latter two clustered, was supported significantly. The addition of new taxa has more clearly defined some relationships within the suborder Neobatrachia and has indicated that the families Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, and Myobatrachidae may not be monophyletic.     

The Phylogenetic Relationships of the Gobioninae (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

The Gobioninae are a group of morphologically and ecologically diverse Eurasian freshwater cyprinid fishes. The intergeneric relationships of this group are unresolved and the possible monophyly of this subfamily remains to be established. We used complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences from most genera within the gobionine group, in addition to a selection of cyprinid outgroups, to investigate the possible monophyly of this group and resolve the interrelationships within the group. Our results support the monophyly of the Gobioninae and identify four monophyletic groups within the subfamily; the Hemibarbus group, the Sarcocheilichthys group, the Gobio group, and the Pseudogobio group. The morphologically aberrant genera Gobiobotia, Xenophysogobio and Gobiocypris are included in the Gobioninae, with the latter a sister group of Gnathopogon.     

中国林蛙的分子系统关系

测定了 6种林蛙和用作外群的 2种侧褶蛙和 1种陆蛙的线粒体 12SrRNA基因序列 393bp。序列两两对位比较表明内外群间的位点替换率是 7 3%到 2 3 1% ,内群中物种间则为 0 0 %到 9 2 %。依据上述DNA序列 ,用距离法和最大简约法的系统发育分析表明 :①研究的 6种林蛙聚为一支 ,构成单系群 ,并有高的BPs值(90 %以上 )支持 ;② 6种林蛙可以分成 2个姐妹群 ,即中国林蛙、黑龙江林蛙和桓仁林蛙为一组 (BPs >94% ) ,峨眉林蛙、昭觉林蛙和镇海林蛙为一组 (BPs >5 0 % ) ;③昭觉林蛙与镇海林蛙有较近的亲缘关系 ;④中国林蛙的榆中种群与牡丹江种群间的遗传分化似乎达到了种级分化水平。     

猕猴属6个种的rDNA变异及其系统进化关系

以人２８Ｓ,１８Ｓ,ｒＤＮＡ为探针,用１５种限制性内切酶构建了猕猴属６个种（Ｍ．ｍｕｌａｔｔａ,Ｍ．ｆａｃｓｉｃｕｌａｒｉｓｆＭ．ａｒｃｔｏｉｄｅｓ,Ｍ．ａｓｓａｍｅｎｓｉｓ．Ｍ．ｔｈｉｂｅｔａｎａ．Ｍ。ｎｅｍｅｓｔｒｉｎａ）和滇金丝猴Ｒｈｉｎｏｐｉｔｈｅｃｕｓｂｉｅｔｉ）,白颊长臂猿（Ｈｙｌｏｂａｔｅｓｌｅｕｃｏｇｅｎｙｓ）核糖体ＤＮＡ重复单位的限制性内切酶图谱,红面猴（Ｍ．ａｒｃｔｏｉｅｓ）与     

基于18S rDNA序列的蝽次目(半翅目：异翅亚目)

利用18SrDNA分子约1 912 bp的序列对蝽次目21个科53个种进行系统发育分析。运用MP法、ML法和NJ法分析后的结果表明:蝽次目的单系性得到很高的支持;扁蝽总科成为毛点类的姐妹群;毛点类基本确定为两大分支:一支包含蝽总科和红蝽总科;另一支主要由长蝽总科、缘蝽总科和南蝽总科组成;长蝽总科和缘蝽总科都是多系;长蝽总科中,跷蝽科和皮蝽科的关系最近,构成姐妹群,位于整个毛点类的基部;与长蝽总科中另外两个科长蝽科和地长蝽科的关系很远。说明利用18SrDNA分子对研究蝽次目的系统发育关系是适合的,能够重建蝽次目;扁蝽总科和蝽总科单系性的结果与形态学的研究以及Li et al (2005)的研究一致;但较Li et al(2005)的研究更进一步把红蝽总科从广义的缘蝽总科中分出来;并建议皮蝽科作为一个独立的总科更合适。     

Congruent Avian Phylogenies Inferred from Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Sequences

Recent molecular studies addressing the phylogenetic relationships of avian orders have had conflicting results. While studies using nuclear DNA sequences tend to support traditional taxonomic views, also supported by morphological data [(paleognaths (galloanseres (all other birds)))], with songbirds forming a clade within Neoaves (all other birds), analyses with complete mtDNA genomes have resulted in topologies that place songbirds as one of the earliest-diverging avian lineages. Considering that over half of the extant bird species are songbirds, these different results have very different implications for our understanding of avian evolution. We analyzed data sets comprising nearly 4 kb of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (complete 12S, ND1, ND2, and cytochrome b) plus 600 bp of the nuclear gene c-mos for 15 birds that were chosen to represent all major avian clades and to minimize potential long-branch attraction problems; we used a partition-specific maximum likelihood approach. Our results show congruence with respect to the ingroup among phylogenies obtained with mtDNA and the nuclear gene c-mos, separately or combined. The data sets support a traditional avian taxonomy, with paleognaths (ratites and tinamous) occupying a basal position and with songbirds more derived and forming a monophyletic group. We also show that, for mtDNA studies, turtles may be a better outgroup for birds than crocodilians because of their slower rate of sequence evolution.     

Pattern of Phylogenetic Relationships among Members of the Tribe Melitaeini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

We report a cladistic analysis of 77 butterfly species of the tribe Melitaeini (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) based on mitochondrial DNA gene sequences. We sequenced ca. 536 bp from the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and a 1422-bp sequence from the cytochrome oxidase I gene. Alignments are critical to statements of homology, especially when aligning rDNA sequences. We aligned the 16S sequences using conventional methods and direct optimization. We found that direct optimization of the sequences produced the best alignments and our preferred phylogenetic hypothesis. Our results suggest that many of the previously proposed genera are paraphyletic and we conclude that there are four monophyletic groups of species in our cladogram: the Euphydryas group, the Phyciodes group, the Chlosyne group, and the Melitaea group. The following genera are found to be paraphyletic: Castilia, Chlosyne, Didymaeformia, Eresia, Melitaea , and Thessalia . In addition, recognition of the monophyletic genera Cinclidia, Mellicta , and Telenassa would render other genera paraphyletic. Our phylogenetic hypothesis indicates that the melitaeines originated in the Nearctic and have colonized the Neotropics three times and the Palaearctic twice.     

犬科的线粒体细胞色素b DNA序列及其分子系统学研究

通过对犬科的赤狐、蓝狐、貉和狼４种的线粒体细胞色素ｂ约３７２ｂｐＤＮＡ片段序列分析,结合ＧｅｎＢａｎｋ中狗、西门豺和非洲野犬３种的该区段ＤＮＡ序列的比较,共发现１１３个核苷酸位点存在变异（约３０％）。ＮＪ法构建的分子系统树显示,非洲野犬最先从犬科动物中分化出来;犬属的我狼、狗和西门豺等３种为系统树上独立的一支,且其分歧的时间较赤狐、蓝狐和貉早;赤狐和蓝狐具有较近的亲缘关系。上述结果与形态的观点基本     

Phylogenetic Relationships among Asian species of Petaurista (Rodentia, Sciuridae), Inferred from Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among four species belonging to the genus Petaurista (P. alborufus castaneus, P. alborufus lena, P. leucogenys leucogenys, P. leucogenys nikkonis, P. petaurista melanotus, and P. philippensis grandis), we investigated the partial sequences (1,068 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for these giant flying squirrels. Phylogenetic trees (NJ, MP, and ML trees) constructed from cytochrome b sequences indicated that P. leucogenys was grouped independently with other species, and that P. philippensis was most closely related to P. petaurista with 99-100% bootstrap values. In addition, two subspecies of P. alborufus did not form a single clade: P. alborufus castaneus from China was most distantly related to the other species, whereas P. alborufus lena from Taiwan was closely related to P. petaurista and P. philippensis with 82-90% bootstrap values. This result suggests that it is reasonable to regard P. alborufus lena as a distinct species from P. alborufus castaneus.     

基于线粒体细胞色素b基因序列的虹雉属鸟类的系统发育关系

通过雉科虹雉属(Lophophorus)、角雉属(Tragopan)、勺鸡属(Pucrasia)和血雉属(Ithaginis)7种鸟类的细胞色素b(cyt b)基因序列比较,构建的虹雉属及其近缘属的分子系统树表明：①3种虹雉构成一个单系群(monophyletic group),虹雉属与角雉属、勺鸡属构成一个单系群;②虹雉属内分为白尾梢虹雉,以及棕尾虹雉和绿尾虹雉两个演化枝。综合分子系统学、地理分布格局和形态学的证据,推测虹雉属鸟类起源于中国的横断山脉,其中繁衍生活在原地的一枝演化为白尾梢虹雉;另一枝则分别进入喜马拉雅山区(西)和中国西南部(东),向西的演化为棕尾虹雉,向东的则为绿尾虹雉。     

细胞色素b基因序列与11种熊蜂的系统进化

通过比较一段357b的细胞色素b的序列,分析了熊蜂属5亚属11种熊蜂系统发育关系。5亚属包括Bombus( 5种）,Thoracobombus(3种）,Mendacibombus(1种）,Fervidobombus(1种）和Pyrobombus(1种）,该序列有65个单变异态位点和71个简约信息多态位点,翻译成119个氨基酸序列后有45个氨基酸变异位点。根据P－距离构建的邻接树（NJ tree)和最大简约树（MP tree)都显示同样的结果：Mendacibombus (B.avinovielllus)分化最早;Fervidobombus(B.pensylvanicus)次之;Pyrobombus(B.impatiens)和Bombus形成姊妹群;Bombus亚属是单系群,其中B.ignitus在所研究的5个种中分化最早。     

Mitochondrial DNA variation within and among regional populations of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in relation to other species of the fascicularis group of macaques

An 835 base pair (bp) fragment of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was sequenced to characterize genetic variation within and among 1,053 samples comprising five regional populations each of longtail macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), and one sample each of Japanese (M. fuscata) and Taiwanese (M. cyclopis) macaques. The mtDNA haplotypes of longtail macaques clustered in two large highly structured clades (Fas1 and Fas2) of a neighbor-joining tree that were reciprocally monophyletic with respect to those representing rhesus macaques, Japanese macaques, and Taiwanese macaques. Both clades exhibited haplotypes of Indonesian and Malaysian longtail macaques widely dispersed throughout them; however, longtail macaques from Indochina, Philippines, and Mauritius each clustered in a separate well-defined clade together with one or a few Malaysian and/or Indonesian longtail macaques, suggesting origins on the Sunda shelf. Longtail macaques from Malaysia and Indonesia were far more genetically diverse, and those from Mauritius were far less diverse than any other population studied. Nucleotide diversity between mtDNA sequences of longtail macaques from different geographic regions is, in some cases, greater than that between Indian and Chinese rhesus macaques. Approximately equal amounts of genetic diversity are due to differences among animals in the same regional population, different regional populations, and different species. A greater proportion of genetic variance was explained by interspecies differences when Japanese and Taiwanese macaques were regarded as regional populations of rhesus macaques than when they were treated as separate species. Rhesus macaques from China were more closely related to both Taiwanese and Japanese macaques than to their own conspecifics from India.     

Molecular Phylogeny of Nycticebus Inferred from Mitochondrial Genes

Researchers are still discussing the classification of Nycticebus. We established a molecular phylogeny covering all recognized taxa in Nycticebus to provide information for further evaluation. We sequenced partial D-loop (ca. 390 bp) and cytochrome b genes (425 bp) from 22 specimens. We separated most of the major groups except for some mixing of Nycticebus. coucang coucang and N. bengalensis. Nycticebus pygmaeus diverged earlier from the ancestral stock than the other taxa. Nycticebus coucang menagensis was well discriminated from N. c. coucang. It may be possible to explain the mixing of Nycticebus coucang coucang and N. bengalensis by the hybridization between the 2 groups in the field. Although our data did not provide direct evidence for or against the new proposal that Nycticebus coucang javanicus be raised to the rank of a distinct species (N. javanicus), we have good evidence for regarding N. c. menagensis as a species.Jing-Hua Chen and Deng Pan made equal contributions to the work.     

基于rDNA-ITS2序列的中国按蚊属塞蚊亚属部分种类的系统发育研究(双翅目:蚊科)

应用rDNA-ITS2序列,采用邻接法(NJ)、最大简约法(MP)和最大似然法(ML),以按蚊亚属Anopheles的中华按蚊An.(An.)sinensis和赫坎按蚊An.(An.)hyrcanus为外群,对采自中国的按蚊属Anopheles塞蚊亚属Cellia 21种蚊进行了系统发育分析.结果表明:rDNA-ITS...     

基于ITS序列探讨忍冬属的系统发育关系

以七子花(Heptacodium miconioides)为外类群,运用MEGA软件对20种忍冬属植物进行系统发育分析,采用邻接法(NJ)和最大简约法(MP)构建系统发育树,从分子系统学角度探讨忍冬属下的亲缘关系.结果表明:(1)在NJ和MP系统树中,没有形成系统树的基部分支,忍冬亚属(Subg.Chamaecerasus)和轮花亚属(Subg.Lonicera)没有形成姐妹群关系.(2)在各系统树中,囊管组内的各种没有聚为一支,故认为对囊管组的划分应进一步探讨.(3)忍冬属ITS区(ITS1+ITS2)的信息位点达到11.0%,信息位点比较丰富,证明ITS序列可以为解决忍冬属植物的系统发育问题提供较强的证据.     

Phylogenetic Relationships between some Members of the Subfamily Lamioideae (Family Labiatae) Inferred from Nucleotide Sequences of the rbcL Gene*

Total DNA was extracted from 25 species (8 genera) of the subfamily Lamioideae sensu Erdtman (family Labiatae). Using rbcL-specific primers, the rbcL gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and 1420 bp were sequenced directly, or after cloning. RbcL sequences were evaluated with character-state (maximum parsimony; PAUP) and distance methods (neighbour-joining; MEGA). In agreement with classical systematics all taxa studied cluster outside the Nepetoideae. The following clades are apparent: I - Westringia/Prostanthera, II - Ajuga/Teucrium and III - Scutellaria, Stachys, Lamium and Marrubium. Lamium album, L. amplexicaule and L. garganicum appear as a sister clade to Marrubium. Both share a common ancestor with a second Lamium clade (including L. purpureum, L. maculatum and L. galeobdolon). The phylogenetic relationships are discussed with regard to the systematic classification of the subfamilies Lamioideae and Nepetoideae (sensu Erdtman).     

Phylogenetic Relationships of 12 Penaeoidea Shrimp Species Deduced from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

DNA sequences of an 847 bp fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and a 514 bp fragment of 16s rRNA gene were determined to examine the phylogenetic relationships of 12 Penaeoidea shrimp species (Penaeus chinensis, Penaeus japonicus, Penaeus penicillatus, Penaeus vannamei, Penaeus canaliculatus, Trachypenaeus curvirostris, Metapenaeus affinis, Metapenaeus ensis, Metapenaeopsis barbata, Parapenaeus fissuroides, Parapenaeopsis hardiwickii, Solenocera crassicomis). Both fragments of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculaus chosen as the outgroup were also sequenced. Intraspecific sequence divergence of 0.24-1.2% in the COI gene was found in 5 species, while no intraspecific variation was observed in the 16s rRNA gene. Three phylogenetic trees based on the 1361 bp combined sequences of COI and 16s rRNA were concordant in indicating the following suggestions: (1) phylogenetic relationship of the 11 Penaeidae species based on our result support the opinion of Burkenroad (Burkenroad, M.D. (1983). Crustacean Issues 3:279-290) on the basis of morphological features; (2) it seems more reasonable to class Solenocera crassicorni in the family Penaeidae; (3) the fragment of the COI gene chosen here appears to be a good marker for speciation studies and population analysis in Crustaceans, while the 16s rRNA gene fragment here seems suitable for examining phylogenetic relationships at the species or genus levels in Crustaceans. Our time estimates suggest that Penaeus and Metapenaeus might have separated about 6.38 x 10(6)-7.98 x 10(6) years BP in the post-Miocene, and the species separation within Metapenaeus and Penaeus might occur 0.08 x 10(6)-0.4 x 10(6) years BP in the late Pleistocene.     

基于线粒体基因组探讨鲸偶蹄类七种动物的系统发育关系

利用作者已测定的赤麂(Muntiacus muntjak)线粒体全基因组序列和从GenBank检索到的鲸偶蹄类有代表性的长须鲸、河马、奶牛、绵羊、猪、羊驼6种动物的线粒体全基因组序列,按顺序分别连接各自的13个蛋白编码基因、13个氨基酸序列、2个rRNA基因和22个tRNA基因成一个氨基酸序列或核苷酸序列,用DNASTAR软件统计碱基长度和组成;分析奶牛、绵羊和赤麂两两之间蛋白编码基因的序列差异;用MEGA计算7种动物12S和：16S rRNA基因的遗传距离;基于连接在一起的13个蛋白编码基因的氨基酸序列,用NJ法构建系统关系树。结果显示：①偶蹄目反刍亚目牛科的绵羊和同亚目鹿科的赤麂先聚为一亚支,然后与该亚目牛科的奶牛并为一支;猪形亚目猪科的猪和胼足亚目驼科的羊驼并为一支;鲸目须鲸亚目须鲸科的长须鲸和偶蹄目猪形亚目河马科的河马并为一支。②赤麂与绵羊的亲缘关系更近。③推测赤麂与绵羊和奶牛的分歧时间分别约在14．7和16．0百万年前。     

Complete Mitochondrial DNA Sequences of Six Snakes: Phylogenetic Relationships and Molecular Evolution of Genomic Features

Complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences were determined for representative species from six snake families: the acrochordid little file snake, the bold boa constrictor, the cylindrophiid red pipe snake, the viperid himehabu, the pythonid ball python, and the xenopeltid sunbeam snake. Thirteen protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and 2 control regions were identified in these mtDNAs. Duplication of the control region and translocation of the tRNA^Leu gene were two notable features of the snake mtDNAs. The duplicate control regions had nearly identical nucleotide sequences within species but they were divergent among species, suggesting concerted sequence evolution of the two control regions. In addition, the duplicate control regions appear to have facilitated an interchange of some flanking tRNA genes in the viperid lineage. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using a large number of sites (9570 sites in total) derived from the complete mtDNA sequences. Our data strongly suggested a new phylogenetic relationship among the major families of snakes: ((((Viperidae, Colubridae), Acrochordidae), (((Pythonidae, Xenopeltidae), Cylindrophiidae), Boidae)), Leptotyphlopidae). This conclusion was distinct from a widely accepted view based on morphological characters in denying the sister-group relationship of boids and pythonids, as well as the basal divergence of nonmacrostomatan cylindrophiids. These results imply the significance to reconstruct the snake phylogeny with ample molecular data, such as those from complete mtDNA sequences.[Reviewing Editor: Dr. Bill Ballard]