AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Specific chicken repeat 1 (CR1) retrotransposon insertion suggests phylogenetic affinity of rockfowls (genus Picathartes) to crows and ravens (Corvidae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2007
Authors:Treplin, S, TIEDEMANN, RALPH
Journal:Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
Volume:43
Date Published:2007
ISBN Number:1055-7903
Keywords:Corvidae, Corvus, Corvus corone, CR1, Garrulus, Garrulus glandarius, Non-LTR retrotransposon, phylogeny, Picathartes
Abstract:While the monophyly of the order Passeriformes as well as its suborders suboscines (Tyranni) and oscines (Passeri) is well established, both on morphological and molecular grounds, lower phylogenetic relationships have been a continuous matter of debate, especially within oscines. This is particularly true for the rockfowls (genus Picathartes), which phylogenetic classification has been an ongoing puzzle. Sequence-based molecular studies failed in deriving unambiguously resolved and supported hypotheses. We present here a novel approach: use of retrotransposon insertions as phylogenetic markers in passerine birds. Chicken repeat 1 (CR1) is the most important non-LTR retrotransposon in birds. We present two truncated CR1 loci in passerine birds, not only found in representatives of Corvinae (jays, crows and allies), but also in the West-African Picathartes species which provide new evidence for a closer relationship of these species to Corvidae than has previously been thought. Additionally, we show that not only the absence/presence pattern of a CR1 insertion, but also the CR1 sequences themselves contain phylogenetic information.
URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790306004015
Taxonomic name: 
Corvidae (Birds), Corvus (Birds), Corvus corone (Birds), Corvus Corone (Birds), Garrulus (Birds), Garrulus glandarius (Birds)
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith