Mitochondrial genomes of acrodont lizards: timing of gene rearrangements and phylogenetic and biogeographic implications.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acrodonta consists of Agamidae and Chamaeleonidae that have the characteristic acrodont dentition. These two families and Iguanidae sensu lato are members of infraorder Iguania. Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of iguanian lizards still remain to be elucidated in spite of a number of morphological and molecular studies. This issue was addressed by sequencing complete mitochondrial genomes from 10 species that represent major lineages of acrodont lizards. This study also provided a good opportunity to compare molecular evolutionary modes of mitogenomes among different iguanian lineages.

Results

Acrodontan mitogenomes were found to be less conservative than iguanid counterparts with respect to gene arrangement features and rates of sequence evo

SUBMITTER: Okajima Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2889956 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature