The complete plastid genome sequence of Welwitschia mirabilis: an unusually compact plastome with accelerated divergence rates.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Welwitschia mirabilis is the only extant member of the family Welwitschiaceae, one of three lineages of gnetophytes, an enigmatic group of gymnosperms variously allied with flowering plants or conifers. Limited sequence data and rapid divergence rates have precluded consensus on the evolutionary placement of gnetophytes based on molecular characters. Here we report on the first complete gnetophyte chloroplast genome sequence, from Welwitschia mirabilis, as well as analyses on divergence rates of protein-coding genes, comparisons of gene content and order, and phylogenetic implications.

Results

The chloroplast genome of Welwitschia mirabilis [GenBank: EU342371] is comprised of 119,726 base pairs and exhibits large and small single copy regions and two copies of the

SUBMITTER: McCoy SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2386820 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature