New ancient DNA sequences suggest high genetic diversity for the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)

Partial DNA sequences of cytochrome b gene (mtDNA) were successfully retrieved from Late Pleistocene fossil bone of Mammuthus primigenius collected from the Xiguitu County ( Yakeshi), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and from Zhaodong, Harbin of Heilongjiang Province in northern China. Two ancient DNA fragments (109 bp and 124 bp) were authenticated by reproducible experiments in two different laboratories and by phylogenetic analysis with other Elephantidae taxa. Phylogenetic analysis using these sequences and published data in either separate or combined datasets indicate unstable relationship among the woolly mammoth and the two living elephants, Elephas and Loxodonta . In addition to the short sequences used to attempt the long independent evolution of Elephantidae terminal taxa, we suggest that a high intra-specific diversity existed in Mammuthus primigenius crossing both spatial and temporal ranges, resulting in a complex and divergent genetic background for DNA sequences so far recovered. The high genetic diversity in the extinct woolly mammoth can explain the apparent instability of Elephantidae taxa on the molecular phylogenetic trees and can reconcile the apparent paradox regarding the unresolved Elephantidae trichotomy.     

New ancient DNA sequences suggest high genetic diversity for the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)

Partial DNA sequences of cytochrome b gene (mtDNA) were successfully retrieved from Late Pleistocene fossil bone of Mammuthus primigenius collected from the Xiguitu County (Yakeshi), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and from Zhaodong, Harbin of Heilongjiang Province in northern China. Two ancient DNA fragments (109 bp and 124 bp) were authenticated by reproducible experiments in two different laboratories and by phylogenetic analysis with other Elephantidae taxa. Phylogenetic analysis using these sequences and published data in either separate or combined datasets indicate unstable relationship among the woolly mammoth and the two living elephants, Elephas and Loxodonta. In addition to the short sequences used to attempt the long independent evolution of Elephantidae terminal taxa, we suggest that a high intra-specific diversity existed in Mammuthus primigenius crossing both spatial and temporal ranges, resulting in a complex and divergent genetic background for DNA sequences so far recovered. The high genetic diversity in the extinct woolly mammoth can explain the apparent instability of Elephantidae taxa on the molecular phylogenetic trees and can reconcile the apparent paradox regarding the unresolved Elephantidae trichotomy.     

New ancient DNA sequences suggest high genetic diversity for the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius)

Partial DNA sequences of cytochrome b gene (mtDNA) were successfully retrieved from Late Pleistocene fossil bone of Mammuthus primigenius collected from the Xiguitu County (Yakeshi), Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and from Zhaodong, Harbin of Heilongjiang Province in northern China. Two ancient DNA fragments (109 bp and 124 bp) were authenticated by reproducible experiments in two different laboratories and by phylogenetic analysis with other Elephantidae taxa. Phylogenetic analysis using these sequences and published data in either separate or combined datasets indicate unstable relationship among the woolly mammoth and the two living elephants, Elephas and Loxodonta. In addition to the short sequences used to attempt the long independent evolution of Elephantidae terminal taxa, we suggest that a high intra-specific diversity existed in Mammuthus primigenius crossing both spatial and temporal ranges, resulting in a complex and divergent genetic background for DNA sequences so far recovered. The high genetic diversity in the extinct woolly mammoth can explain the apparent instability of Elephantidae taxa on the molecular phylogenetic trees and can reconcile the apparent paradox regarding the unresolved Elephantidae trichotomy.     

淡水鱼类线粒体DNA D-loop基因的引物设计和应用

 线粒体DNA测序已广泛应用于鉴定和区分种类以及解决系统进化关系问题。本文选取已测定的主要淡水鱼类的线粒体DNA D-loop基因序列进行同源性比较,寻找保守序列,利用简并性原则设计一对通用的简并引物。利用设计的引物对广东省珠江流域主要的淡水鱼类线粒体DNA D-loop控制区基因进行扩增,均能获得单一的目的DNA片断,特异性扩增产物大小为1 kb左右。经测序及与GenBank同源序列的比较,证实为包含线粒体控制区全序列的扩增产物。本研究所设计的引物和应用的方法可以快速地同时对多种鱼类进行大规模的遗传背景分析,鉴定某些难于鉴别的近缘物种,为我国鱼类的种类鉴定、地理种群鉴别及种质资源的评估提供重要的工具。     

Extreme reversed sexual size dimorphism in the extinct New Zealand moa Dinornis

The ratite moa (Aves; Dinornithiformes) were massive graviportal browsers weighing up to 250 kg (ref. 1) that dominated the New Zealand biota until their extinction approximately 500 yr ago. Despite an extensive Quaternary fossil record, moa taxonomy remains problematic and currently 11 species are recognized. Three Dinornis species were found throughout New Zealand and differed markedly in size (1-2 m height at back) and mass (from approximately 34 to 242 kg). Surprisingly, ancient mitochondrial DNA sequences show that the three species were genetically indistinguishable within each island, but formed separate North and South Island clades. Here we show, using the first sex-linked nuclear sequences from an extinct species, that on each island the three morphological forms actually represent just one species, whose size varied markedly according to sex and habitat. The largest females in this example of extreme reversed sexual size dimorphism were about 280% the weight and 150% the height of the largest males, which is unprecedented among birds and terrestrial mammals. The combination of molecular and palaeontological data highlights the difficulties of analysing extinct groups, even those with detailed fossil records.     

Multiplex amplification of the mammoth mitochondrial genome and the evolution of Elephantidae

In studying the genomes of extinct species, two principal limitations are typically the small quantities of endogenous ancient DNA and its degraded condition, even though products of up to 1,600 base pairs (bp) have been amplified in rare cases. Using small overlapping polymerase chain reaction products, longer stretches of sequences or even whole mitochondrial genomes can be reconstructed, but this approach is limited by the number of amplifications that can be performed from rare samples. Thus, even from well-studied Pleistocene species such as mammoths, ground sloths and cave bears, no DNA sequences of more than about 1,000 bp have been reconstructed. Here we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Pleistocene woolly mammoth Mammuthus primigenius. We used about 200 mg of bone and a new approach that allows the simultaneous retrieval of multiple sequences from small amounts of degraded DNA. Our phylogenetic analyses show that the mammoth was more closely related to the Asian than to the African elephant. However, the divergence of mammoth, African and Asian elephants occurred over a short time, corresponding to only about 7% of the total length of the phylogenetic tree for the three evolutionary lineages.     

基于mtDNA COI基因序列的盐肤木种群遗传变异

基于mtDNA COI基因序列对贵州、湖北和四川的盐肤木(Rhus chinensis Mill.)种群进行遗传变异分析.研究共测得盐肤木9个种群50个个体的mtDNA COI基因长度为1.37kb的序列,在测得的序列中有3个核苷酸位点存在变异(占所测核苷酸序列的0.22%),T、C、A、G 4种核苷酸的组成分别为34.1%、21.8%、22.5%、21.6%,其中A+T含量(56.6%)高于G+C含量(43.4%).共检测到3个单倍型(HapA、HapB和HapC),HapA出现在所有种群中,是出现频率最高的单倍型,占所测序列的90%,该单倍型可能是祖先单倍型;HapB由安县的1个个体和竹山的3个个体共享,而HapC只存在于榕江的1个个体.分析表明盐肤木种群具低水平单倍型多样性(0.000 2)和核苷酸多样性(0.187 0),基于该基因序列的盐肤木种群间遗传多样性和遗传分化均较小.     

Nuclear DNA sequences detect species limits in ancient moa

Ancient DNA studies have typically used multi-copy mitochondrial DNA sequences. This is largely because single-locus nuclear genes have been difficult to recover from sub-fossil material, restricting the scope of ancient DNA research. Here, we have isolated single-locus nuclear DNA markers to assign the sex of 115 extinct moa and, in combination with a mitochondrial DNA phylogeny, tested competing hypotheses about the specific status of moa taxa. Moa were large ratite birds that showed extreme size variation both within and among species. For some taxa, this large variation was hypothesized to represent sexual dimorphism, while for others it was argued to reflect the existence of different species. Our results show that moa were characterized by extreme reverse sexual dimorphism and as a result we have been able to clarify the number of moa species. For example, we show that the three recognized 'species' of Dinornis comprised only two monophyletic groups and that two of these 'species' comprised individuals of one sex only. This study also illustrates that single-locus nuclear DNA sequences can be consistently recovered from ancient material.     

Deletions of muscle mitochondrial DNA in patients with mitochondrial myopathies

In vitro studies of muscle mitochondrial metabolism in patients with mitochondrial myopathy have identified a variety of functional defects of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, predominantly affecting complex I (NADH-CoQ reductase) or complex III (ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase) in adult cases. These two enzymes consist of approximately 36 subunits, eight of which are encoded by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The increased incidence of maternal, as opposed to paternal, transmission in familial mitochondrial myopathy suggests that these disorders may be caused by mutations of mtDNA. Multiple restriction endonuclease analysis of leukocyte mtDNA from patients with the disease, and their relatives, showed no differences in cleavage patterns between affected and unaffected individuals in any single maternal line. When muscle mtDNA was studied, nine of 25 patients were found to have two populations of muscle mtDNA, one of which had deletions of up to 7 kilobases in length. These observations demonstrate that mtDNA heteroplasmy can occur in man and that human disease may be associated with defects of the mitochondrial genome.     

Molecular identification and phylogenetic position of Cuora yunnanensis

The Yunnan box turtle (Cuora yunnanensis, Boulenger, 1906), which has drawn much attention in conservation biology, was regarded as extinct since it was previously known only from 12 specimens collected in Yunnan, China, before 1908. Recently, live specimens have been discovered which are suggested to be C. yunnanensis. To determine whether the newly discovered specimens are really C. yunnanensis, we have established a molecular phylogeny, with a 1725-bp fragment of mitochondrial DNA, using samples from three live individuals of C. yunnanensis, together with sequence data from a museum specimen of C. yunnanensis (MNHN 1907.10) and other members of the genus Cuora. We found that the three newly discovered individuals and the old museum specimen of C. yunnanensis are very similar both in morphology and in mitochondrial DNA sequence, suggesting that the three new individuals are the very C. yunnanensis, and thus the species is not extinct. Our phylogenetic analysis also demonstrates that C. yunnanensis is not of recent hybrid origin, but rather represents a distinct evolutionary lineage.     

HMW glutenin subunits in multiploidAegilops species: composition analysis and molecular cloning of coding sequences

The Aegilops genus contains species closely related to wheat. In common with wheat, Aegilops species accumulate high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits in their endospermic tissue. In this study, we investigated the composition of HMW glutenin subunits in four multiploid Aegilops species using SDS-PAGE analysis. Furthermore, by working with Ae. ventricosa, we established an efficient genomic PCR condition for simultaneous amplification of DNA sequences coding for either x- or y-type HMW glutenin subunits from polyploid Aegilops species. Using the genomic PCR condition, we amplified and subsequently cloned two DNA fragments that may code for HMW glutenin subunits in Ae. ventricosa. Based on an analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences, we concluded that the two cloned sequences encode one x- and one y-type of HMW glutenin subunit, respectively.     

2.5MaB.P.真马快速扩散事件在中国的表现

通过对甘肃庆阳巴家嘴第四系底部地层中发现的２种真马化石研究得出，其地质年龄为２．５Ｍａ Ｂ．Ｐ，是欧亚大陆发现最早真马化石的地点之一。认为：第四纪初真马从北美向欧亚大陆快速扩散的背景，是全球冰期气候的出现；中国与整个欧亚大陆一样，在一系列年龄为 ２． ５ Ｍａ Ｂ．Ｐ．的地点发现了最早的真马；这些化石显示出种级单元丰富的多样性，即在同一生态区域内常常同时有２种真马共同生活，还有三趾马共生；这是在气候突变条件下动物快速扩散事件产生的适应辐射，为区域叠覆成种理论提供了大型动物成种的证据。     

Nucleotide sequence evidence for rapid genotypic shifts in the bovine mitochondrial DNA D-loop

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is unusual in its rapid rate of evolution and high level of intraspecies sequence variation. The latter is thought to be related to the strict maternal inheritance of mtDNA, which effectively isolates within a species mitochondrial gene pools that accumulate mutations and vary independently. A fundamental and as yet unexplained aspect of this process is how, in the face of somatic and germ-line mtDNA ploidy of 10(3) to 10(5) (refs 4, 5), individual variant mtDNA molecules resulting from mutational events can come to dominate the large intracellular mtDNA population so rapidly. To help answer this question, we have determined here the nucleotide sequence of all or part of the D-loop region in 14 maternally related Holstein cows. Four different D-loop sequences can be distinguished in the mtDNA of these animals. One explanation is that multiple mitochondrial genotypes existed in the maternal germ line and that expansion or segregation of one of these genotypes during oogenesis or early development led to the rapid genotypic shifts observed.     

东海野生灰鲳mtDNA D-loop序列遗传变异分析

以东海区野生灰鲳背部肌肉的线粒体DNA为模板,采用PCR技术对7个个体的D-loop序列进行了扩增,通过对PCR产物进行双向测序,最终得到了471 bp的核苷酸片断(除去两端部分序列)。用DNAMAN6.0软件进行了排序比较发现,东海野生灰鲳的D-loop序列同源性高达99.48%;用DNASP4.0软件分析得知,7个序列共有6个单倍型(在GenBank登录号:GU970085-GU970087,GU970089-GU970091),在7个个体中,共检测到14个变异位点,包括13个转换和1个颠换位点。运用MEGA4.0软件计算出了不同个体间的遗传距离,并据此构建了MP和NJ系统树。用DNASP4.0软件计算出的多态位点数为14,核苷酸多样性指数和平均核苷酸差异数分别为0.009 71和4.571。研究结果表明,东海野生灰鲳的D-loop序列个体变异程度并不丰富。     

寄蝇亚科部分物种线粒体COl基因DNA条形码分类

DNA条形码分类(DNA Barcoding)是以生物线粒体DNA为工具来鉴定物种的新方法,是外来物种快速鉴定、物种分类与系统发育和进化分析的基础.研究以我国辽宁地区常见的寄蝇亚科(双翅目:寄蝇科)2族4属6种为对象,扩增和测定COI基因部分序列,对得到数据用MEGA4软件分析计算,构建该类群分子系统发育树.分析表明:...     

茄子雄性不育株和可育株的胞质DNA和核DNA差异分析

以茄子(Solanum melongenaL)雄性不育株“正兴1号”(S)和可育株(F)的总DNA为模板,对60个随机引物进行了筛选,找到5个其RAPD(Random amplified polymorphic DNA,RAPD)扩增产物在茄子雄性不育系和对照材料间存在稳定差异的引物．将该5个引物同时扩增总DNA、核DNA和线粒体DNA(mitochondrial DNA,mtDNA)．以总DNA为模板时得到多态性片段9个,以核DNA为模板时得到5个,以mtDNA为模板时得到9个．以总DNA为模板时得到的9个扩增片段中,有5个在总DNA和mtDNA中同时出现,而在核中没有出现,即认为来自mtDNA,这5个片段中,有4个来自可育株,1个来自不育株,说明不育株和可育株在mtDNA上存在差异;有4个片段同时出现在以总DNA和核DNA为模板的扩增中,但在以mtDNA为模板的扩增中却没有出现,认为是来自核DNA,这4个片段中,有3个来自不育株,一个来自可育株,说明可育株和不育株在核DNA上也存在差异．结果初步表明：新发现的茄子雄性不育可能是核质相互作用所引起．     

Somatic variants of murine immunoglobulin lambda light chains

Studies of the murine lambda light chains produced by myeloma cells provided the first evidence for somatic point mutation of germ-line variable (V) region genes. An examination of the variable regions of 19 lambda 1 chains revealed seven which differed from a common sequence by one to three amino acid substitutions. Subsequently, one of these presumed somatic variants of the single lambda 1 V gene was characterized by DNA sequence analysis of the rearranged functional gene. The predicted DNA sequence alteration was observed and no silent mutation was evident. These studies of lambda chain variants suggested that the hypervariable, complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) ht be a preferred site of somatic mutation because all seven characterized variants contained substitutions only in these regions. By contrast, comparisons of closely related kappa chain variable region amino acid sequences, and more recently VK and VH genes, have suggested that somatic mutation probably occurs in codons for both framework and CDR residues. To examine this apparent discrepancy between the sites of somatic mutations in lambda and kappa genes, we have determined the nucleotide sequence of two lambda 1 gene from hybridomas and a lambda 2 gene from a myeloma. These sequences demonstrate that somatic mutation in lambda genes can occur in both the framework and CDR residues.     

Direct evidence for extensive paternal mitochondrial DNA inheritance in the marine mussel Mytilus.

Inheritance of mitochondrial DNA in animals was thought to be strictly maternal. Recently, evidence for incidental paternal mtDNA leakage was obtained in hybrid crosses of Drosophila and mice. In mice, the frequency of paternal mtDNA contributions was estimated at 10(-4), compared with maternal contributions. The common occurrence in the marine mussel Mytilus of heteroplasmic individuals with two or more types of highly diverged mtDNA molecules was interpreted as strong evidence for biparental mtDNA inheritance by some, but not by others. We report here results from pair-matings involving two species of mussels, Mytilus edulis and Mytilus trossulus. Extensive contribution of paternal mtDNA, amounting to several orders of magnitude higher than that inferred for Drosophila or mice, was observed in both intra- and interspecific crosses.     

Complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of Chinese alligator,Alligator sinensis, and phylogeny of crocodiles

The 16746-neueleotide (nt) sequence of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) of Chinese alligator,Alligator sinensis,was determined using the Long-PCR and primer walking methods.As is typical in vertebrates,the mtDNA encodes 13 proteins,2 rDNA,22 tRNA genes,and a noncoding control region.The Composition of bases is respectively 29.43%A,24.59%T,14.86%G,31.12% C.The gene arrangement differs from the common vertebrate gene arrangement,but is similar to that of other crocodiles,DNA sequence data from 12S rRNA,168 rRNA,protein-coding genes and combined sequence data were used to reconstruct the phylogeny of reptiles with the MP and ML methods.With this large data set and an appropriate range of outgroup taxa,the authors demonstrate that Chinese alligator is most closely related to American alligator among three crocodilian species,which suppors the traditional viewpoint.According to the branch lengths of ML tree from the combined data set,the primary divergence between Alligator and Caiman genus was dated at about 74.9 Ma,the split between Chinese alligator and American alligator was dated at 50.9Ma.     

五倍子蚜与寄主植物DNA序列系统发育关系及其协同进化

五倍子蚜特指寄生在漆树科盐肤木属几种植物上形成五倍子虫瘿的一类蚜虫.本研究采用PCR直接测序方法测定了五倍子蚜10个种共19个样本的mtDNA COI基因部分DNA序列(660 bp),从GenBank下载瘿绵蚜科Pemphigidae瘿绵蚜属Pemphigus、卷叶绵蚜属Prociphilus和棉蚜属Eriosoma及纩蚜科Mindaridae纩蚜属Min-darus种相应基因序列为外类群,构建五倍子蚜种之间的MP和ML分子系统发育关系,两种方法得到一致的结果.五倍子蚜10个种共形成3个大的聚类簇,圆角倍蚜属的红倍花蚜和倍花蚜、铁倍蚜属的4个种(亚种)分别以很高的置信度聚为一支,铁倍花蚜属的铁倍花蚜、小铁枣蚜属的红小铁枣蚜与倍蚜属的角倍蚜和倍蛋蚜聚为一支,但是其置信度较低.同时,采用生物信息学方法从GenBank下载五倍子蚜第一寄主盐肤木属Rhus植物cpDNATrnL-F区序列(980 bp),建立寄主植物种之间的MP和ML系统发育关系,与角倍蚜系统发育关系进行比较分析,结果显示二者之间明显的协同进化关系,但是五倍子蚜的聚类并没有完全和寄主植物之间形成一对一的平行对应关系.