Phylogenetic utility of Tektin, a novel region for inferring systematic relationships among Lepidoptera

Citation:

Whinnett, A., Brower, A. V. Z., Lee, M. - M., Willmott, K. R., & Mallet, J. (2005). Phylogenetic utility of Tektin, a novel region for inferring systematic relationships among Lepidoptera. Annals of the Entomological Society of America , 98, 873-886.

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Abstract:

Rapidly evolving nuclear coding sequences are highly desirable for phylogeneticstudies of closely related species. Here, we investigated an 807-bp region, homologous to the testisspeciÞcTektin gene from Bombyx mori (L.), in 34 nymphalid butterßy taxa in the subfamiliesIthomiinae, Danainae, and Heliconiinae. Within Ithomiinae, relationships inferred from Tektin sequencedata were remarkably similar to those in trees based on combined morphological andecological data. Partitioned Bremer analysis, with mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II, andnuclear wingless and elongation factor 1- sequences, revealed Tektin to have the greatest utility forinferring relationships at the genus, tribe, and subfamily levels across the studied taxa.Wethink Tektinwill provide a useful source of molecular characters for inference of relationships among otherbutterßies, and perhaps among other insect taxa.

Last updated on 09/22/2019

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