Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a pivotal tool in molecular ecology, evolutionary and
population genetics. The power of mtDNA analyses derives from a relatively high mutation …

Despite recent advances in population genetic theory and empirical research, the extent of
genetic differentiation among natural populations of animals remains difficult to predict. We …

We improve the taxon sampling for avian phylogeny by analyzing 7 new mitochondrial
genomes (a toucan, woodpecker, osprey, forest falcon, American kestrel, heron, and a …

Mitochondrial genome rearrangements that result in control region duplication have been
described for a variety of birds, but the mechanisms leading to their appearance and …

Background The big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) from east Asia is the sole
living representative of a poorly-studied turtle lineage (Platysternidae). It has no close living …

Mitochondrial genomes are generally thought to be under selection for compactness, due to
their small size, consistent gene content, and a lack of introns or intergenic spacers. As more …

Background The mitochondrial genomes of snakes are characterized by an overall
evolutionary rate that appears to be one of the most accelerated among vertebrates. They …

Recombinational genetic processes are thought to be rare in the uniparentally inherited
mitochondrial (mt) DNA molecules of vertebrates and other animals. Here, however, we …

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) translocated into the nuclear genome (numt), when co-
analysed with genuine mtDNA, could plague phylogeographic studies. To evaluate numt …

Background Although nowaday it is broadly accepted that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may
undergo recombination, the frequency of such recombination remains controversial. Its …