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Ch. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle Genomes
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksSanders 3rd EditionCh. 17 - Organelle Inheritance and the Evolution of Organelle GenomesProblem 21
Chapter 17, Problem 21

The dodo bird (Raphus cucullatus) lived on the Mauritius Islands until the arrival of European sailors, who quickly hunted the large, placid, flightless bird to extinction. Rapid morphological evolution such as often accompanies island isolation had caused the bird's huge size and obscured its physical resemblance to any near relatives. However, sequencing of mitochondrial DNA from dodo bones reveals that they were pigeons, closely related to the Nicobar pigeon from other islands in the Indian Ocean. Why was mitochondrial DNA suited to the study of this extinct species?

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Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is often used in evolutionary studies because it is inherited maternally and does not undergo recombination, providing a clear lineage trace.
mtDNA has a relatively high mutation rate compared to nuclear DNA, which makes it useful for studying evolutionary relationships over shorter timescales.
The abundance of mitochondria in cells means that mtDNA is often more readily available and preserved in ancient or degraded samples, such as those from extinct species.
mtDNA can be extracted from small or degraded samples, which is particularly useful for extinct species where only limited material may be available.
The comparison of mtDNA sequences from the dodo and its relatives allows researchers to determine evolutionary relationships and confirm the dodo's place within the pigeon family tree.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)

Mitochondrial DNA is a type of genetic material found in the mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells. Unlike nuclear DNA, mtDNA is inherited maternally and has a higher mutation rate, making it useful for studying evolutionary relationships and tracing lineage. Its relatively small size and abundance in cells also facilitate the extraction and analysis of genetic information, especially from ancient or degraded samples.
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Phylogenetics

Phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relationships among biological species based on genetic information. By comparing mtDNA sequences from different species, scientists can construct phylogenetic trees that illustrate how closely related species are to one another. This method helps in understanding the evolutionary history and divergence of species, such as the dodo bird and its relatives.
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Extinction and Conservation Genetics

Extinction refers to the complete loss of a species, often due to human activities or environmental changes. Conservation genetics uses genetic data to understand the genetic diversity and health of endangered species, which can inform conservation efforts. Studying the genetics of extinct species like the dodo can provide insights into their evolutionary history and inform strategies to protect closely related species that are still extant.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The following pedigree shows a family in which several individuals exhibit symptoms of the mitochondrial disease MERRF. Two siblings (II-2 and II-5) approach you to inquire about whether their children will also be afflicted with MERRF. What do you tell them? 

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Textbook Question

What is the most likely mode of inheritance for the trait depicted in the following human pedigree? 

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Textbook Question

In 1918, the Russian tsar Nicholas II was deposed, and he and his family were reportedly executed and buried in a shallow grave. During this chaotic time, rumors abounded that the youngest daughter, Anastasia, had escaped. In 1920, a woman in Germany claimed to be Anastasia. In 1979, remains were recovered for the tsar, his wife (the Tsarina Alexandra), and three of their children, but not Anastasia. How would you evaluate the claim of the woman in Germany?

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Textbook Question

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) in plants has been exploited to produce hybrid seeds. Specific CMS alleles in the mitochondrial genome can be suppressed by specific dominant alleles in the nuclear genome, called Restorer of fertility alleles, RF. Consider the following cross:

♀CMS 1Rf 1/Rf1 rf2/rf2 × ♂CMS2rf 1/rf1 Rf2/Rf2

What genotypes and phenotypes do you expect in the F₁? If some of the F₁ plants are male fertile, what genotypes and phenotypes do you expect in the F₂?

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Textbook Question

Wolves and coyotes can interbreed in captivity, and now, because of changes in their habitat distribution, they may have the opportunity to interbreed in the wild. To examine this possibility, mitochondrial DNA from wolf and coyote populations throughout North America—including habitats where the two species both reside—was analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed from the resulting data. A sequence from a jackal was used as an outgroup, and a sequence from a domestic dog was included, demonstrating wolves as the origin of domestic dogs. What do you conclude about the possibility that interspecific hybridization occurred between wolves and coyotes on the basis of this phylogenetic tree?

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Textbook Question

Considering the phylogenetic assignment of Plasmodium falciparum, the malarial parasite, to the phylum Apicomplexa, what might you speculate as to whether the parasite is susceptible to aminoglycoside antibiotics?

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