Caenorhabditis phylogeny predicts convergence of hermaphroditism and extensive intron loss

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Jun 15;101(24):9003-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0403094101. Epub 2004 Jun 7.

Abstract

Despite the prominence of Caenorhabditis elegans as a major developmental and genetic model system, its phylogenetic relationship to its closest relatives has not been resolved. Resolution of these relationships is necessary for studying the steps that underlie life history, genomic, and morphological evolution of this important system. By using data from five different nuclear genes from 10 Caenorhabditis species currently in culture, we find a well resolved phylogeny that reveals three striking patterns in the evolution of this animal group: (i) Hermaphroditism has evolved independently in C. elegans and its close relative Caenorhabditis briggsae; (ii) there is a large degree of intron turnover within Caenorhabditis, and intron losses are much more frequent than intron gains; and (iii) despite the lack of marked morphological diversity, more genetic disparity is present within this one genus than has occurred within all vertebrates.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Caenorhabditis / genetics*
  • Disorders of Sex Development / genetics*
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genome
  • Introns / genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA Polymerase II / genetics

Substances

  • RNA Polymerase II

Associated data

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