Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2002):

Molecular analysis of an 11,700-year-old rodent midden from the Atacama Desert, Chile.

Full Abstract

DNA was extracted from an 11,700-year-old rodent midden from the Atacama Desert, Chile and the chloroplast and animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene sequences were analysed to investigate the floral environment surrounding the midden, and the identity of the midden agent. The plant sequences, together with the macroscopic identifications, suggest the presence of 13 plant families and three orders that no longer exist today at the midden locality, and thus point to a much more diverse and humid climate 11,700 years ago. The mtDNA sequences suggest the presence of at least four different vertebrates, which have been putatively identified as a camelid (vicuna), two rodents (Phyllotis and Abrocoma), and a cardinal bird (Passeriformes). To identify the midden agent, DNA was extracted from pooled faecal pellets, three small overlapping fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene were amplified and multiple clones were sequenced. These results were analysed along with complete cytochrome b sequences for several modern Phyllotis species to place the midden sequence phylogenetically. The results identified the midden agent as belonging to an ancestral P. limatus. Today, P. limatus is not found at the midden locality but it can be found 100 km to the north, indicating at least a small range shift. The more extensive sampling of modern Phyllotis reinforces the suggestion that P. limatus is recently derived from a peripheral isolate.

Author information

Author/s: Kuch, Melanie (M); Rohland, Nadin (N); Betancourt, Julio L (JL); Latorre, Claudio (C); Steppan, Scott (S); Poinar, Hendrik N (HN);

Affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Inselstrasse 22 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Molecular ecology (Mol Ecol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-May; vol 11 (issue 5) : pp 913-24

Dates: Created 2002/04/26; Completed 2002/09/17; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11975707, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Animals Base Sequence Chile Cytochrome b Group - chemistry; genetics DNA, Chloroplast - chemistry; genetics DNA, Mitochondrial - chemistry; genetics Feces - chemistry Fossils

Molecular Sequence Data Phylogeny Plants - classification; genetics Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA, Ribosomal - chemistry; genetics RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - chemistry; genetics Rodentia - classification; genetics Sequence Analysis, DNA

Associated Chemicals: Cytochrome b Group (0) ; DNA, Chloroplast (0) ; DNA, Mitochondrial (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (0) ; RNA, ribosomal, 12S (0)

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