Research article summary (published 30 Mar 1998):

Phylogeny and biogeography of ratite birds inferred from DNA sequences of the mitochondrial ribosomal genes.

Full Abstract

The origin of the flightless ratite birds of the southern continents has been debated for over a century. Whether dispersal or vicariance (continental breakup) best explains their origin depends largely on their phylogenetic relationships. No consensus has been reached on this issue despite many morphological and molecular studies. To address this question further we sequenced a 2.8-kb region of mitochondrial DNA containing the ribosomal genes in representative ratites and a tinamou. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that Struthio (Africa) is basal and Rhea (South America) clusters with living Australasian ratites. This phylogeny agrees with transferrin and DNA hybridization studies but not with sequence analyses of some protein-coding genes. These results also require reevaluation of the phylogenetic position of the extinct moas of New Zealand. We propose a new hypothesis for the origin of ratites that combines elements of dispersal and vicariance.

Author information

Author/s: van Tuinen, M (M); Sibley, C G (CG); Hedges, S B (SB);

Affiliation: Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

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

Reference: 1998-Apr; vol 15 (issue 4) : pp 370-6

Dates: Created 1998/05/01; Completed 1998/05/01; Revised 2003/11/14;

PMID: 9549088, 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.

Africa Animals Base Sequence Birds - classification; genetics DNA Primers - genetics DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics DNA, Ribosomal - genetics Evolution, Molecular

Evolution, Molecular Phylogeny Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA, Ribosomal - genetics RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics RNA, Transfer, Val - genetics South America Species Specificity

Associated Chemicals: DNA Primers (0) ; DNA, Mitochondrial (0) ; DNA, Ribosomal (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal (0) ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S (0) ; RNA, Transfer, Val (0) ; RNA, ribosomal, 12S (0)

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