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Extensive intraspecific polymorphism detected by SSCP at the nuclear C‐ mos gene in the endemic Iberian lizard Lacerta schreiberi
Author(s) -
GODINHO RAQUEL,
DOMINGUES VERA,
CRESPO EDUARDO G.,
FERRAND NUNO
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2006.02813.x
Subject(s) - biology , intraspecific competition , phylogenetic tree , genetics , allopatric speciation , evolutionary biology , nuclear gene , phylogeography , lizard , gene , single strand conformation polymorphism , mitochondrial dna , population , zoology , polymerase chain reaction , demography , sociology
C‐ mos is a highly conserved intronless gene that has proved useful in the analysis of ancient phylogenetic relationships within vertebrates. We selected the Iberian endemic Schreiber's green lizard ( Lacerta schreiberi ) that persisted in allopatric refugia since the late Pliocene to investigate the utility of the C‐ mos nuclear gene for intraspecific phylogeographic studies. Our combination of DNA sequencing with the high resolving power of single‐strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) effectively discriminated four common alleles showing strong population structuring ( F ST = 0.46). In addition, reconstruction of allele phylogenetic relationships further improved our understanding of C‐ mos spatial patterns of variation and allowed a comparison with previously described mitochondrial DNA data. Finally, limited sequencing of an extended C‐ mos fragment in six additional Lacerta species showed extensive polymorphism, to our knowledge representing a rare example of variation in a highly conserved nuclear gene.