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Evolution of mitogenomic gene order in Orthoptera
Sarah Maria Gaugel1,2, Oliver Hawlitschek1,2, Lara-Sophie Dey1,2
1University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Insect Molecular Biology
|March 8, 2023
Summary
Mitochondrial gene order in Orthoptera (grasshoppers and relatives) shows complex evolution, with rearrangements often occurring independently. This suggests gene order is not a reliable marker for deep evolutionary relationships in this ancient insect group.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genomics
- Entomology
Background:
- Mitochondrial gene order is a valuable phylogenetic marker for deep evolutionary nodes in many animal groups.
- Orthoptera, an ancient insect order, has been understudied regarding mitochondrial genome rearrangements (MTRs) and their phylogenetic utility.
- Understanding MTRs in Orthoptera can shed light on insect evolution and genome dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive study of mitochondrial genome rearrangements (MTRs) in Orthoptera.
- To reconstruct a molecular phylogeny for Orthoptera using mitogenomic sequences.
- To identify potential synapomorphies (shared derived traits) in mitochondrial gene order within Orthoptera.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 280 published mitogenome sequences from 256 Orthoptera species.
- Reconstructed a molecular phylogeny using a heuristic approach.
- Assigned MTR scenarios to phylogenetic tree edges and reconstructed ancestral gene orders.
Main Results:
- Identified various MTRs including inversions, transpositions, and tandem-duplication/random loss (TDRL) events.
- Most MTRs were unique to single species, suggesting convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry.
- Four potential synapomorphies were identified in specific subgroups (Acrididea, Holochlorini, Pseudophyllinae, Phalangopsidae/Gryllidae), but similar MTRs were found in distant lineages.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial gene order in Orthoptera exhibits complex and often convergent evolutionary patterns.
- MTRs are primarily found at terminal nodes, limiting their utility for resolving deep phylogenetic relationships in Orthoptera.
- Further research is needed to understand the patterns and mechanisms of MTRs in Orthoptera, highlighting the intricate genetic evolution of this group.
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