Mitochondrial DNA as a marker of molecular diversity: a reappraisal

Over the last three decades, mitochondrial DNA has been the most popular marker of molecular diversity, for a combination of technical ease-of-use considerations, and supposed biological and evolutionary properties of clonality, near-neutrality and clock-like nature of its substitution rate. Reviewi...

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Published inMolecular ecology Vol. 18; no. 22; pp. 4541 - 4550
Main Authors Galtier, N, Nabholz, B, Glemin, S, Hurst, G.D.D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.11.2009
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Subjects
adaptation
Biodiversity
Biologi
Biology
Biomarkers
DNA, Mitochondrial
DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics
Evolution, Molecular
Genetic Markers
Genetic Speciation
Genetic Variation
genetics
Genetics, Population
Genome, Mitochondrial
Genomics
Inheritance Patterns
Mitochondrial DNA
mitochondrial genome
Molecular biology
molecular clock
Mutation
mutation hotspots
NATURAL SCIENCES
NATURVETENSKAP
population
recombination
Selection, Genetic
Wolbachio
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Summary:Over the last three decades, mitochondrial DNA has been the most popular marker of molecular diversity, for a combination of technical ease-of-use considerations, and supposed biological and evolutionary properties of clonality, near-neutrality and clock-like nature of its substitution rate. Reviewing recent literature on the subject, we argue that mitochondrial DNA is not always clonal, far from neutrally evolving and certainly not clock-like, questioning its relevance as a witness of recent species and population history. We critically evaluate the usage of mitochondrial DNA for species delineation and identification. Finally, we note the great potential of accumulating mtDNA data for evolutionary and functional analysis of the mitochondrial genome.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04380.x
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ArticleID:MEC4380
N.G. is interested in various aspects of molecular evolution, and especially the relationship between species biology and genome evolutionary trends in animals. B.N. studies the evolutionary genomics of vertebrates, with a preference for birds and interests in phylogeny, molecular dating, polymorphism, influence of population size, and of mutation rate. S.G. combines theoretical and empirical population genomic approaches to analyse the influence of mating systems and other life‐history traits on genome evolution, with some focus on plants. G.H. is an evolutionary geneticist interested in genomic conflicts, and especially the interaction between maternally‐transmitted symbiotic microbes and their arthropod hosts.
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ISSN:0962-1083
1365-294X
1365-294X
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2009.04380.x