Research article summary (published 30 Aug 1994):

Molecular systematics of hystricognath rodents: evidence from the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene.

Full Abstract

Nucleotide sequence variation among 22 representatives of 14 families of hystricognathid rodents was examined using an 814-bp region of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene composing domains I-III. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, the phylogenetic relationships among Old World phiomorph (primarily African) and New World caviomorph (primarily South American) families were investigated, with a special emphasis on testing hypotheses pertaining to the origin of New World families and the identification of major monophyletic groups. Second, divergence times derived from molecular data were compared to those suggested by the fossil record. The resultant 12S rRNA gene phylogeny, analyzed separately and in combination with other morphological and molecular data, supported a monophyletic Caviomorpha. This finding is counter to the idea of a multiple origin for the South American families. The most strongly supported relationships within the Caviomorpha were a monophyletic Octodontoidea (containing five families) and the placement of New World porcupines (family Erethizontidae) as the most divergent family. Although comparisons to other data were more equivocal, the most parsimonious 12S rRNA trees also supported a monophyletic Phiomorpha that could be subdivided into two major groups, a clade containing the Thryonomyoidea (Thryonomyidae and Petromuridae) plus Bathyergidae and the more divergent Hystricidae (Old World porcupines). No significant differences in rates of 12S rRNA gene divergence were observed for hystricognathids in comparison to other rodent groups. Although time since divergence estimates were influenced by the fossil dates chosen to calibrate absolute rates, the overall divergence times derived from both transversions only and Kimura corrected distances and calibrations using two independent dates revealed a divergence time between Old and New World groups dating in the Eocene.

Author information

Author/s: Nedbal, M A (MA); Allard, M W (MW); Honeycutt, R L (RL);

Affiliation: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843.

Journal and publication information

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

Journal: Molecular phylogenetics and evolution (Mol Phylogenet Evol), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1994-Sep; vol 3 (issue 3) : pp 206-20

Dates: Created 1995/02/14; Completed 1995/02/14; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 7820285, 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.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Mol Phylogenet Evol. 1995 Sep;4(3):357-60. (PMID: 8845970)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Africa Animals Base Sequence Chinchilla - genetics DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics Guinea Pigs - genetics Insulin - genetics Models, Biological Molecular Sequence Data

Phylogeny RNA, Ribosomal - genetics Ribonuclease, Pancreatic - genetics Rodentia - classification; genetics Sequence Alignment Sequence Homology, Amino Acid Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid South America Species Specificity

Associated Chemicals: DNA, Mitochondrial (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal (0) ; RNA, ribosomal, 12S (0) ; Insulin (11061-68-0) ; Ribonuclease, Pancreatic (EC 3.1.27.5)

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