Uncovering historical signature of mitochondrial DNA hidden in the nuclear genome: the biogeography ofSchistocercarevisited

摘要: Inadvertent coamplification of nuclear mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts) is a serious problem in systematics, but numts can also be valuable source information because they represent ancient forms mtDNA. We present conceptual framework numt accumulation, which states that given species there two types numts, synaponumts and autaponumts, resulting from integration occurring respectively before after speciation event. In clade, diverged early only have its own autaponumts as well were already the genome last common ancestor. A more recently may, however, many different integrated at each divergence autaponumts. Therefore it possible to decipher evolutionary history based on phylogenetic distribution simultaneous analysis extant this study, we test idea empirically context addressing controversial question regarding biogeography grasshopper genus Schistocerca Stal (Orthoptera: Acrididae), cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. find our empirical data explained adequately by framework, COI reveals intricate histories about past events are otherwise difficult detect using conventional markers. Our study strongly favours Old World origin desert locust, gregaria New descendants an ancestral gregaria-like colonized via westward transatlantic flight. However, S. raises distinct possibility might been multiple founding Africa America give rise present-day diversity genus. This case for creative use molecular fossils, demonstrate provide interesting powerful signal, much than what mtDNA or gene sequences able provide.