Although mitochondrial genome structure has been studied more widely in insects than in other invertebrates, there is still little known about the diversity of genome structure and its relationship to the phylogeny. Within Coleoptera, the largest order of insects, only two species (two families of the 150+ families in the order) – Crioceris duodecimpunctata (Chysomelidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Tenebrionidae) – have had the complete mitochondrial genome sequenced. This study will present the initial results of three additional mitochondrial genomes: Macrogyrinus oblongus (Gyrinidae), Rhopaea magnicornis (Scarabaeidae), and a species of Mordellidae. Mitochondrial genomes were sequenced by gene walking. The genomic data will be compared to look for variability in gene rearrangements and number of tRNA genes, which may have potential value as phylogenetic characters within Coleoptera.
Species 1: Coleoptera Gyrinidae Macrogyrinus oblongus (whirligig beetle)
Species 2: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Rhopaea magnicornis (dung beetle)
Species 3: Coleoptera Mordellidae (tumbling flower beetle)
Keywords: DNA, phylogeny
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