Molecular population genetics of male and female mitochondrial genomes in subarctic Mytilus trossulus.

ABSTRACT: The doubly uniparental inheritance system allows for the use of two independent mitochondrial genomes for population history investigations. Under this system, two lineages of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) exist and males are typically heteroplasmic, having the additional, usually divergent, mitochondrial genome inherited from their male parent. This additional mtDNA typically evolves faster, potentially allowing for insight into more recent events in population history. Few studies did explore this possibility in marine mussels Mytilus showing its usefulness. Recent observations of the Mytilus trossulus mussels who have retained their native mtDNA in European waters posed the question of their origin. Are they part of a population present, but previously undetected, or is this a

SUBMITTER: Smietanka B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3873064 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature