The phylogenetic position of Acoela as revealed by the complete mitochondrial genome of Symsagittifera roscoffensis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acoels are simply organized unsegmented worms, lacking hindgut and anus. Several publications over recent years challenge the long-held view that acoels are early offshoots of the flatworms. Instead a basal position as sister group to all other bilaterian animals was suggested, mainly based on molecular evidence. This led to the view that features of acoels might reflect those of the last common ancestor of Bilateria, and resulted in several evo-devo studies trying to interpret bilaterian evolution using acoels as a proxy model for the "Urbilateria".

Results

We describe the first complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a member of the Acoela, Symsagittifera roscoffensis. Gene content and circular organization of the mitochondrial genome does not significantly di

SUBMITTER: Mwinyi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2973942 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature