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A mobile element-based evolutionary history of guenons (tribe Cercopithecini)
Jinchuan Xing1, Hui Wang, Yuhua Zhang
1Department of Biological Sciences, Biological Computation and Visualization Center, Center for Bio-Modular Multi-scale Systems, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. jxing1@lsu.edu
BMC Biology
|February 3, 2007
Summary
This study uses SINE insertions to build a robust evolutionary tree for guenons (tribe Cercopithecini). The findings clarify relationships within the group, revealing a single arboreal to terrestrial transition.
Area of Science:
- Primate evolutionary biology
- Molecular phylogenetics
- Mammalian taxonomy
Background:
- Guenons (tribe Cercopithecini) are a diverse primate group with complex evolutionary relationships.
- Elucidating their phylogenetic history has been challenging due to intricate speciation patterns.
- Short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) offer homoplasy-free genetic markers for phylogenetic inference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To infer a robust phylogenetic tree for the tribe Cercopithecini using SINE insertion loci.
- To investigate evolutionary relationships and transitions within the guenon radiation.
- To highlight the utility of SINEs as reliable markers in primate phylogenetics.
Main Methods:
- Identification and analysis of 151 novel Alu insertion loci in 11 Cercopithecini species.
- Integration of previously reported SINE loci for comprehensive phylogenetic analysis.
- Construction of a phylogenetic tree to resolve tribal relationships.
Main Results:
- Established Allenopithecus as the basal lineage within Cercopithecini.
- Resolved a clade comprising Cercopithecus lhoesti, Chlorocebus aethiops, and Erythrocebus patas, indicating a single arboreal-to-terrestrial transition.
- Confirmed the monophyly of Cercopithecus (excluding C. lhoesti) and identified Miopithecus talapoin as sister to arboreal Cercopithecus species.
Conclusions:
- Presented a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the tribe Cercopithecini.
- Demonstrated the effectiveness of SINE insertions for resolving primate evolutionary history.
- Addressed long-standing questions regarding guenon phylogeny and evolutionary transitions.
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