Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
10:23
A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
Published on: July 11, 2025
770
DNA barcoding and molecular phylogeny in Ranidae
Zuhao Huang1, Chengzhong Yang2, Dianhua Ke1
1a School of Life Sciences, Jinggangshan University , Ji'an , Jiangxi Province , China and.
Mitochondrial DNA. Part A, DNA Mapping, Sequencing, and Analysis
|December 30, 2014
Summary
DNA barcoding effectively identifies most Ranidae frog species. However, COI gene data suggests some genera, like Rana, may not be monophyletic, indicating complex evolutionary histories.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Molecular Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- The family Ranidae, commonly known as true frogs, boasts the widest geographic distribution among all frog families.
- Despite their extensive distribution, the evolutionary relationships and phylogenetic classification within the Ranidae family remain subjects of ongoing scientific debate.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of DNA barcoding using the COI gene for species identification within the Ranidae family.
- To investigate the phylogenetic relationships among genera and species of Ranidae using molecular data.
- To evaluate the monophyly and potential polyphyly of specific Ranidae genera.
Main Methods:
- DNA barcoding was employed, focusing on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene.
- COI barcode sequences were analyzed for 29 species across six genera within the Ranidae family.
- Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining method, and genetic distances were calculated using the Kimura two-parameter model.
Main Results:
- DNA barcodes successfully identified 93.10% (27 out of 29) of the studied Ranidae species.
- A high degree of genetic divergence was observed between species (average 28 times greater than within-species divergence), with pairwise distances ranging from 0.16% to 29.13%.
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct clades, suggesting that some current genera, including Rana, Amolops, Babina, and Hylarana, may not be monophyletic, potentially indicating polyphyly.
Conclusions:
- DNA barcoding serves as a powerful and effective tool for accurate species identification in the Ranidae family.
- The COI gene data provides strong support for the hypothesis of polyphyly in several Ranidae genera, challenging existing taxonomic classifications.
- Further phylogenetic studies incorporating molecular data are crucial for resolving the evolutionary history and refining the taxonomy of the Ranidae family.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:54Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
7.3K
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
7.3K
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
873
Advancements in molecular biology have revolutionized the identification and characterization of bacteria, with multiple methods leveraging DNA sequencing for enhanced precision. As sequencing technologies improve and costs decline, these approaches are increasingly used in clinical, environmental, and evolutionary studies.Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) examines several housekeeping genes, essential chromosomal genes encoding cellular functions, to distinguish strains. Approximately...
873
01:28Microbial Phylogeny
79
Understanding the evolutionary relationships among microorganisms is fundamental to microbial ecology and taxonomy. Phylogenetic trees are essential tools for inferring these relationships, relying primarily on comparative analyses of molecular sequences such as DNA, RNA, or proteins. In microbial studies, these trees typically depict the evolutionary paths of diverse bacterial and archaeal species by mapping genetic differences accumulated over time.Phylogenetic trees are composed of tips,...
79
01:20Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
713
Molecular taxonomy has revolutionized the understanding and classification of bacteria, providing precise insights into their diversity, evolutionary relationships, and ecological roles. By utilizing molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and fingerprinting, researchers have made significant strides in various fields related to bacterial studies.Resolving Taxonomic AmbiguitiesMolecular taxonomy has been instrumental in distinguishing closely related bacterial species initially thought to...
713
03:21Phylogenetic Trees
52.3K
Phylogenetic trees come in many forms. It matters in which sequence the organisms are arranged from the bottom to the top of the tree, but the branches can rotate at their nodes without altering the information. The lines connecting individual nodes can be straight, angled, or even curved.
52.3K
02:05Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
8.4K
The genomes of eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of sequence which do not code for proteins or RNAs. Although some of these regions do contain crucial regulatory sequences, the vast majority of this DNA serves no known function. Typically, these regions of the genome are the ones in which the fastest change, in evolutionary terms, is observed, because there is typically little to no selection pressure acting on these regions to preserve their sequences.
In contrast, regions which code...
In contrast, regions which code...
8.4K