Search results for "MITOCHONDRIAL DNA"
showing 10 items of 259 documents
Genes, Ageing and Longevity in Humans: Problems, Advantages and Perspectives.
2006
Many epidemiological data indicate the presence of a strong familial component of longevity that is largely determined by genetics, and a number of possible associations between longevity and allelic variants of genes have been described. A breakthrough strategy to get insight into the genetics of longevity is the study of centenarians, the best example of successful ageing. We review the main results regarding nuclear genes as well as the mitochondrial genome, focusing on the investigations performed on Italian centenarians, compared to those from other countries. These studies produced interesting results on many putative "longevity genes". Nevertheless, many discrepancies are reported, l…
Geographic distribution and seasonal variation of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in the aphidRhopalosiphum padi(Hemiptera: Aphididae)
1997
AbstractThis study examines the spatial and seasonal patterning of mitochondrial DNA diversity in French populations of the bird cherry-oat aphid,Rhopalosiphum padi(Linnaeus), on both its primary and secondary hosts. Our results confirm the presence of two major mitochondrial lineages that are generally associated with the breeding system variation (cyclic and obligate parthenogenesis) shown by this species. The strength of this relationship varies regionally, being most evident in the south and west. Cyclically parthenogenetic populations show no significant regional or seasonal genetic divergence reflecting high levels of gene flow, possibly promoted by their obligate host-alternation. Ho…
Evolution and genetic structure of the great tit (Parus major) complex
2003
The great tit complex is divided into four groups, each containing several subspecies. Even though the groups are known to differ markedly on morphological, vocal and behavioural characters, some hybridization occurs in the regions where they meet. The great tit has often been referred to as an example of a ring species, although this has later been questioned. Here, we have studied the genetic structure and phylogenetic relationships of the subspecies groups to clarify the evolutionary history of the complex using control region sequences of the mitochondrial DNA. The subspecies groups were found to be monophyletic and clearly distinct in mitochondrial haplotypes, and therefore must have h…
Morphological and genome-wide evidence for natural hybridisation within the genus Stipa (Poaceae)
2020
AbstractHybridisation in the wild between closely related species is a common mechanism of speciation in the plant kingdom and, in particular, in the grass family. Here we explore the potential for natural hybridisation in Stipa (one of the largest genera in Poaceae) between genetically distant species at their distribution edges in Mountains of Central Asia using integrative taxonomy. Our research highlights the applicability of classical morphological and genome reduction approaches in studies on wild plant species. The obtained results revealed a new nothospecies, Stipa × lazkovii, which exhibits intermediate characters to S. krylovii and S. bungeana. A high-density DArTseq assay disclos…
Mitochondrial DNA sequence data support the allocation of Greek mainland chameleons to Chamaeleo africanus
1999
Arnold, E.N., Burton, J.A. (1978): Reptiles and Amphibians of Britain and Europe. London, Collins & Sons.Bruno, S., Maugeri, S. (1990): Guida ai serpenti d’ Italia e d’ Europa. Milano, Editoriale Giorgio Mondadori.Carpenter, C.C., Ferguson, G.W. (1977): Variation and evolution of stereotyped behaviour in reptiles. In: Biologyof theReptilia, Vol. 7, p. 335-554. Gans, C., Tinkle, D.W.,Eds, London, New York, San Francisco, AcademicPress.Tomaselli, R., Balduzzi, A., Filipello, S. (1973): Carta Bioclimatica d’ Italia. Collana Verde 33, MinisteroAgricoltura eForeste, Roma.
Mitochondrial DNA in the central european population
2000
Sequencing of mtDNA is an advanced method for the individualisation of traces. Disadvantages of this method are expensive and time-consuming analysis and evaluation procedures as well as the necessary stock of population-genetic data which is still insufficient. Central European institutes of forensic medicine from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have been working together since the beginning of 1998 to establish a mtDNA database. The aim is to build up a large stock of forensically established data and provide population-genetic data for frequency investigations, which will serve as a basis for expert opinions and scientific research. Good data quality is ensured by using original sequen…
Tracing the first steps of American sturgeon pioneers in Europe
2008
Abstract Background A Baltic population of Atlantic sturgeon was founded ~1,200 years ago by migrants from North America, but after centuries of persistence, the population was extirpated in the 1960s, mainly as a result of over-harvest and habitat alterations. As there are four genetically distinct groups of Atlantic sturgeon inhabiting North American rivers today, we investigated the genetic provenance of the historic Baltic population by ancient DNA analyses using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Results The phylogeographic signal obtained from multilocus microsatellite DNA genotypes and mitochondrial DNA control region haplotypes, when compared to existing baseline datasets from extan…
Mitochondria as sources and targets of damage in cellular aging.
2011
Mitochondria are considered as the most important cellular sources and targets of free radicals. They are also a source of signalling molecules that regulate cell cycle, proliferation, and apoptosis. Denham Harman postulated the free radical theory of aging in 1956. Previously Rebecca Gershman showed that radiation toxicity could be attributed to free radical damage. Subsequently, Jaime Miquel formulated the mitochondrial free radical theory of aging. We have shown that mitochondrial size, membrane potential, inner membrane mass and peroxide production is altered inside cells in old animals. These result in an increase in the oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA with aging that can be prev…
Signals of demographic expansion in Drosophila virilis
2008
Background. The pattern of genetic variation within and among populations of a species is strongly affected by its phylogeographic history. Analyses based on putatively neutral markers provide data from which past events, such as population expansions and colonizations, can be inferred. Drosophila virilis is a cosmopolitan species belonging to the virilis group, where divergence times between different phylads go back to the early Miocene. We analysed mitochondrial DNA sequence variation among 35 Drosophila virilis strains covering the species' range in order to detect demographic events that could be used to understand the present characteristics of the species, as well as its differences …
Reliability of mitochondrial DNA in an acanthocephalan: The problem of pseudogenes
2006
The utility of mitochondrial DNA as a molecular marker for evolutionary studies is well recognized. However, several problems can arise when using mitochondrial DNA, one of which is the presence of nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes, or Numts. Pseudogenes of cytochrome oxidase I were preferentially amplified from Acanthocephalus lucii (Acanthocephala) using a universal PCR approach. To verify the presence and abundance of pseudogenes, length heterogeneity analysis of the PCR fragments was performed. PCR products obtained with universal primers often contained fragments of different sizes. Cloned sequences from universal PCR products nearly always contained sequence abnormalities such as inde…