Intraspecific mitochondrial gene variation can be as low as that of nuclear rRNA.

ABSTRACT: Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has long been used to date historical demographic events. The idea that it is useful for molecular dating rests on the premise that its evolution is neutral. Even though this idea has long been challenged, the evidence against clock-like evolution of mtDNA is often ignored. Here, we present a particularly clear and simple example to illustrate the implications of violations of the assumption of selective neutrality. Methods: DNA sequences were generated for the mtDNA COI gene and the nuclear 28S rRNA of two closely related rocky shore snails, and species-level variation was compared. Nuclear rRNA is not usually used to study intraspecific variation in species that are not spatially structured, presumably because this marker is assumed to

SUBMITTER: Matumba TG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7475959 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature