Phylogeny, reproductive isolation and kin recognition in the social amoeba Dictyostelium purpureum.

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the population structure of social microorganisms, yet such studies are particularly interesting for the ways that genetic variation impacts their social evolution. Dictyostelium, a eukaryotic microbe widely used as a developmental model, has a social fruiting stage in which some formerly independent individuals die to help others. To assess genetic variation within the social amoeba Dictyostelium purpureum, we sequenced approximately 4000 base pairs of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from 37 isolates collected in Texas, Virginia, and Japan. Our analysis showed extensive genetic variation between populations and clear evidence of phylogenetic structure. We identified three major phylogenetic groups that were more different than other accepted species pairs. Tests using pairs of

SUBMITTER: Mehdiabadi NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4896750 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature