Development of new nuclear markers for phylogeny reconstruction in Thomasomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Biomedical; Cell & Molecular Biology; Chemistry & Biochemistry; Marine Science; Systematics & Evolutionary Biology.
  In Poster Session: Systematics & Evolutionary Biology Poster Session

Abstract

Thomasomys is a genus of mouse-like rodent species distributed primarily in northwestern South America. Previous investigations based on mitochondrial genes have provided well resolved nodes at the species level. In contrast, most deep nodes needed for reconstructing evolutionary adaptations in the geographic and ecological history of Thomasomys had short branches and low bootstrap values, suggesting a rapid radiation early in the diversification of Thomasomys. In order to further test these phylogenetic hypotheses, we have tested and designed primers in order to obtain sequences exon 6 of the gene coding for the dentin matrix (DMP1), first exon of the interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP), second intron of alcohol dehydrogenase gene 1 (Adh), seventh intron of b-fibrinogen gene (bfbg), and second intron of preproinsulin 1 (Ins). Early results suggest that these markers are less variable than previously used mitochondrial markers and the nuclear recombination activating gene 1 (RAG1) but could contain significant amounts of phylogenetically informative characters. Although increased phylogenetic resolution has been minimal, when combined, these nuclear gene can provided independent evidence supporting mitochondrially based hypotheses.

Authors

• Joshua M. Brokaw, Abilene Christian University

• Hannah Seah, Abilene Christian University

• John P Placide, Abilene Christian University

• Meagan R. Benson, Abilene Christian University

• Jonathan G. Jasper, Abilene Christian University