Mitochondrial DNAs and Phylogenetic Relationships

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Abstract
Microevolutionary processes are currently being investigated by the study of genetic diversity in the mitochondrial genome. In addition to its small size and relative ease of extraction and purification two particular properties of the mitochondrial genome have led to the adoption of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in studies concerned with recent phylogenetic comparison. These are the maternal mode of inheritance, and the absence of recombination in sexually reproduced lineages. Theoretical studies representing an extension of neutral gene theory have also been rapid. Not only can an expectation of the rate of gene substitution be formulated for the mitochondrial genome, so too can comparative levels of nuclear and mitochondrial diversity found within populations and with respect to mating behavior, migration rates, and population subdivision. Consequently, measurements of mtDNA diversity are revealing details of evolutionary processes concerned with the recent geographical and ecological differentiation of species. These studies are also likely to be informative in an analysis of rates of gene introgression and convergent evolutionary phenomena.

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