<p>DNA sequences from the <i>rps16</i> intron and the <i>psbE-petL</i> spacer from the chloroplast genome, the ribosomal nuclear ITS region, and introns from the low copy nuclear genes <i>RPA2</i>, <i>RPB2</i>, <i>RPD2a</i> and <i>RPD2b</i>, are in different combinations used to infer phylogenetic relationships in <i>Sileneae</i> (<i>Caryophyllaceae</i>). Used in concert, the biparentally inherited nuclear regions are useful to distinguish between paralogy due to allopolyploidy and single gene duplications, respectively, because the latter are not expected to give rise to repeated phylogenetic patterns in potentially unlinked sequence regions. In addition, the sequences resolve previously poorly known relationships in the tribe <i>Sileneae</i>. Several independent losses and incomplete concerted evolution are inferred between the two <i>RPD2</i> paralogues in a subgroup of <i>Silene</i>.</p><p>An allopolyploid origin is suggested for the tetraploid <i>S. aegaea</i>, with the maternal ancestor from the diploid <i>S. pentelica</i> lineage, and the paternal contributor from the diploid <i>S. sedoides</i> lineage.</p><p><i>Silene involucrata</i> originated as an allotetraploid with the diploid lineage of Arctic <i>S. uralensis</i> as cytoplasmic donor and the diploid Siberian/Northeast Asian <i>S. ajanensis</i> lineage as pollen donor. A subsequent allopolyploidization with the <i>S. ajanensis</i> lineage as pollen donor and the tetraploid <i>S. involucrata</i> lineage as cytoplasmic donor resulted in the hexaploid lineage of <i>S. sorensenis sensu lato</i>.</p><p>A monophyletic origin of the North American polyploids is rejected. One lineage consists of tetraploid <i>S. menziesii</i> and its diploid allies. A separate lineage leads to a clade consisting of both diploid and polyploid Arctic, European and Asian taxa in addition to the majority of the North American polyploids. The tetraploid <i>S. californica</i> and the hexaploid <i>S. hookeri</i> are derived from separate allopolyploidization events between these two lineages.</p>

<p>Genetic profiling is commonly performed on the autosomes using multiple DNA markers. Although routine forensic DNA analysis is robust and based on reliable technologies, samples with degraded or limited amounts of DNA often fail. In these cases, the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be very valuable due to the high copy number per cell. This thesis describes evaluation and modifications of existing technologies that are useful in forensic DNA typing, mainly focusing on mtDNA.</p><p>DNA quantities isolated from common evidence materials such as hairs, fingerprints and accessories were estimated using a real-time quantification assay. Knowledge of quantitative differences between materials can guide forensic scientists to perform the best analysis (Paper I).</p><p>The current mtDNA analysis is based on hypervariable region (HVI/HVII) sequencing, which is the most rigorous and time-consuming forensic DNA analysis. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility to exclude individuals by screening for non-matching samples using the rapid and easy mtDNA Linear Array Assay (Paper II). </p><p>The major disadvantage using mtDNA is the lower discrimination power compared to multiple nuclear DNA markers. In contrast to the nuclear genome, due to the uniparental (maternal) mode of inheritance, no individual has unique mtDNA. We investigated the possibility of increasing the discrimination power by using pyrosequencing technology to analyse parts of the coding region in addition to HVI/HVII (Paper III). Furthermore, the addition of coding mtDNA information was evaluated by comparing several recently published mtDNA coding region assays (Paper IV). </p><p>Mixtures of DNA are common in forensic genetics due to contribution of DNA from several individuals, contamination or heteroplasmy. To resolve mixtures we have developed a pyrosequencing-based assay for the accurate quantification of the mtDNA mixture components (Paper V).</p><p>In conclusion, this thesis describes several assays that are valuable in forensic genetics for DNA quantification, improved mtDNA analysis, and mtDNA mixture interpretation.</p>

I use morphological, vocal, molecular, behavioural, ecological and distributional data to re-evaluate the systematics of three passerine bird groups, the Mirafraassamica complex (bush-larks), the genus Seicercus ("spectacled-warblers"; with emphasis on the the S. burkii complex) and the genus Motacilla (wagtails). Two new species are described: Seicercus soror and Motacilla samveasnae. I propose that the polytypic species M. assamica should be treated as four separate species: M. assamica, M. affinis, M. microptera and M. marionae (it is also remarked that the proper name of the latter is M. erythrocephala). That is primarily supported by vocalisations and mitochondrial DNA. The latter data set also suggests that M. assamica sensu lato is paraphyletic, since M. erythroptera, which is always treated as a separate species, is nested within the M. assamica complex. I propose that the polytypic species S. burkii comprises six sibling species. Some of these are found to breed sympatrically, although mainly or entirely segregated altitudinally. Mitochondrial DNA suggests that the S. burkii complex is non-monophyletic, and also that the divergence of the different taxa is much older than indicated by morphological and vocal data. According to the molecular phylogeny, both the genera Seicercus and its assumed sister genus Phylloscopus are paraphyletic. That is corroborated by independent data. The phylogenetic study of the genus Motacilla reveals incongruence between mitochondrial DNA, nuclear DNA and non-molecular data. I conclude that the nuclear gene tree reflects the organismal phylogeny more faithfully than the mitochondrial gene tree. The latter is likely to have been affected by introgressive hybridisation, possibly also stochastic lineage sorting. The most remarkable result that is strongly supported by both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA is that M. flava is non-monophyletic.

Genetic profiling is commonly performed on the autosomes using multiple DNA markers. Although routine forensic DNA analysis is robust and based on reliable technologies, samples with degraded or limited amounts of DNA often fail. In these cases, the analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can be very valuable due to the high copy number per cell. This thesis describes evaluation and modifications of existing technologies that are useful in forensic DNA typing, mainly focusing on mtDNA. DNA quantities isolated from common evidence materials such as hairs, fingerprints and accessories were estimated using a real-time quantification assay. Knowledge of quantitative differences between materials can guide forensic scientists to perform the best analysis (Paper I). The current mtDNA analysis is based on hypervariable region (HVI/HVII) sequencing, which is the most rigorous and time-consuming forensic DNA analysis. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility to exclude individuals by screening for non-matching samples using the rapid and easy mtDNA Linear Array Assay (Paper II). The major disadvantage using mtDNA is the lower discrimination power compared to multiple nuclear DNA markers. In contrast to the nuclear genome, due to the uniparental (maternal) mode of inheritance, no individual has unique mtDNA. We investigated the possibility of increasing the discrimination power by using pyrosequencing technology to analyse parts of the coding region in addition to HVI/HVII (Paper III). Furthermore, the addition of coding mtDNA information was evaluated by comparing several recently published mtDNA coding region assays (Paper IV). Mixtures of DNA are common in forensic genetics due to contribution of DNA from several individuals, contamination or heteroplasmy. To resolve mixtures we have developed a pyrosequencing-based assay for the accurate quantification of the mtDNA mixture components (Paper V). In conclusion, this thesis describes several assays that are valuable in forensic genetics for DNA quantification, improved mtDNA analysis, and mtDNA mixture interpretation.

DNA sequences from the rps16 intron and the psbE-petL spacer from the chloroplast genome, the ribosomal nuclear ITS region, and introns from the low copy nuclear genes RPA2, RPB2, RPD2a and RPD2b, are in different combinations used to infer phylogenetic relationships in Sileneae (Caryophyllaceae). Used in concert, the biparentally inherited nuclear regions are useful to distinguish between paralogy due to allopolyploidy and single gene duplications, respectively, because the latter are not expected to give rise to repeated phylogenetic patterns in potentially unlinked sequence regions. In addition, the sequences resolve previously poorly known relationships in the tribe Sileneae. Several independent losses and incomplete concerted evolution are inferred between the two RPD2 paralogues in a subgroup of Silene. An allopolyploid origin is suggested for the tetraploid S. aegaea, with the maternal ancestor from the diploid S. pentelica lineage, and the paternal contributor from the diploid S. sedoides lineage. Silene involucrata originated as an allotetraploid with the diploid lineage of Arctic S. uralensis as cytoplasmic donor and the diploid Siberian/Northeast Asian S. ajanensis lineage as pollen donor. A subsequent allopolyploidization with the S. ajanensis lineage as pollen donor and the tetraploid S. involucrata lineage as cytoplasmic donor resulted in the hexaploid lineage of S. sorensenis sensu lato. A monophyletic origin of the North American polyploids is rejected. One lineage consists of tetraploid S. menziesii and its diploid allies. A separate lineage leads to a clade consisting of both diploid and polyploid Arctic, European and Asian taxa in addition to the majority of the North American polyploids. The tetraploid S. californica and the hexaploid S. hookeri are derived from separate allopolyploidization events between these two lineages.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-02-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:03:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 cavalcanteneto_a_dr_jabo.pdf: 4939501 bytes, checksum: 3f74c1d904d705f2ad4cef0bc2ccbc70 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Com os objetivos de elucidar a origem genética do suíno casco-de-burro e de contribuir para sua conservação, realizou-se uma caracterização genética em 110 animais, oriundos das regiões Nordeste (NE), Centro-Oeste (CO) e Sudeste (SE), usando-se duas classes de marcador molecular e análises citogenéticas. Foram encontrados 13 haplótipos mitocondriais entre os cascos-de-burro, sendo que apenas um foi comum às três subpopulações (NE, CO e SE). O valor médio da diversidade haplotípica e o da nucleotídica na população total foram 0,61 e 0,05 respectivamente. Por meio do DNA mitocondrial, as subpopulações de casco-de-burro apresentaram menor distância genética da população da raça portuguesa bísara. No entanto o haplótipo mais frequente nos cascos-de-burro e o único comum a todas as subpopulações pertence à raça ibérica. A variabilidade genética média obtida por meio dos 25 microssatélites na população total foi: número de alelo = 9,8; conteúdo de informação polimórfica = 0,73; heterozigose esperada = 0,69; heterozigose observada = 0,58; consaguinidade (Fis) = 0,15; e apenas seis loci apresentaram-se em equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Considerando-se a divisão da população nas três subpopulações que, por meio do DNA nuclear, estiveram mais próximas da população duroc e da bísara , os valores observados para os índices de fixação foram: 0,10 para Fis, 0,09 para Fst e 0,18 para Fit. Os cascos-de-burro possuem o número diploide 2n = 38, não sendo verificado miscigenação com o javali. Os resultados demonstram origem genética ibérica para os cascos-de-burro, com posterior introgressão alélica das raças internacionais importadas no século passado / With the purpose of elucidating the genetic origin of Brazilian Mulefoot pigs and to contribute to their conservation, 110 animals from Northeast (NE), Central- West (CW), and Southeast (SE) Brazil were characterized using two molecular marker classes and cytogenetic analysis. A total of 13 mitochondrial haplotypes was found, but only one was common to the three subpopulations (NE, CW, SE) of Brazilian Mulefoot pigs. The total population presented mean haplotype and nucleotide diversity values of 0.61 and 0.05, respectively. Mitochondrial DNA analysis showed that the Brazilian Mulefoot pig subpopulations presented the shortest genetic distance from the Portuguese Bísara breed. However, the most frequent haplotype found in the Brazilian Mulefoot population, and the only one common to all subpopulations belongs to the Ibérica breed. The mean genetic variability of the total population, obtained using 25 microsatellites, was: allele number = 9.8; polymorphic information content = 0.73; expected heterozygosity = 0.69; observed heterozygosity = 0.58; inbreeding = 0.15; and only six loci displayed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Considering the three studied subpopulations which were closer to the Bísara and Duroc populations, based on nuclear DNA the values observed for the fixation indexes were: 0.09 for Fis, 0.10 for Fst, and 0.18 for Fit. Brazilian Mulefoot pigs have a diploid number of 2n = 38, which indicates that there is no interbreeding with wild boars. The results demonstrate that the genetic origin of Brazilian Mulefoot pigs is Iberian, with later allele introgression from foreign breeds imported during the 20th century

The members of the genus Anguis are widely but hidden living reptile species in the Czech and Slovak Republic. Due to their slight morphological characters among species of the genus, presence of two out of five species in the study area has only recently been confirmed. However, a detailed knowledge about their distribution, contact zones or potential hybridization is still unknown or very insufficient. In this master thesis, 407 individuals of Anguis fragilis and A. colchica out of 281 locations were genotyped. 407 sequences of the mitochondrial marker ND2, 170 sequences of PRLR and 156 sequences RAG1 (both nuclear markers) were used for the genetic analyses. The results confirmed the dominant species A. fragilis for the Czech Republic and A. colchica for the Slovak Republic. The contact and potential hybrid zone has north-south direction from northern Moravia and Silesia, across the Morava River valleys to the Little Carpathians and the Danubian Lowland in Slovakia. The most important information of this thesis is about potential hybridization of these species. My analyses reveal that high number of individuals in the north-south direction zone has hybrid genotype. It allowed detecting the width of the hybrid zone and more accurate genetic structure among species and populations. In addition,...

Les acides nucléiques sont des activateurs puissants des réponses immunitaires innées. Pour lutter contre les infections, les organismes multicellulaires ont développé de multiples façons de détecter les agents pathogènes. L'une d'entre elles est la reconnaissance de l'ADN dans le cytoplasme. La présence d'ADN dans le cytoplasme est généralement liée à des infections par des bactéries ou des virus comme le VIH. La GMP-AMP synthase cyclique (cGAS) est un capteur cytosolique essentiel de l'ADN chez les mammifères. Lors de la reconnaissance de l'ADN, cGAS synthétise le petit second messager cyclique GMP-AMP (cGAMP), qui active les voies de signalisation de l’immunité innée. De plus, cGAS joue un rôle central en réponse aux microbes et au développement de maladies auto-immunes comme les interféronopathies. Cette thèse examine le rôle de cGAS en réponse aux virus et à l’ADN du soi. En explorant la réponse médiée par cGAS en présence du VIH, nous avons constaté que dans les cellules produisant du virus, le cGAMP synthétisé par cGAS est contenu dans des particules virales et des vésicules extracellulaires. Les particules virales délivrent efficacement cGAMP aux cellules cibles et activent une réponse antivirale puissante. Le transfert de cGAMP nécessite une activité catalytique de cGAS et une fusion des particules virales avec les cellules cibles. Nous avons également montré que dans le contexte d'une infection, les virus à ADN tels que MVA et mCMV peuvent conditionner cGAMP. Par conséquent, le transfert de cGAMP médié par une infection virale est un mécanisme de défense généralisé du système immunitaire inné. Nous avons également étudié l'activation du cGAS par l'ADN en se concentrant sur l'ADN de la chromatine nucléaire. Dans les cellules eucaryotes, l'ADN est compartimenté dans deux organelles: le noyau et les mitochondries. La compartimentation nucléaire de l'ADN peut être transitoirement perdue lors de la rupture de l'enveloppe nucléaire pendant la division cellulaire et lors des ruptures d'enveloppes nucléaires dans les cellules dendritiques migrantes (DC). Nous avons constaté que la rupture de l'enveloppe nucléaire ou la perte de l'intégrité de l'enveloppe nucléaire entraînent un recrutement de cGAS sur l'ADN nucléaire. Nous avons également montré que les DC présentent un pool nucléaire de cGAS à l'état basal. La rupture de l'enveloppe nucléaire pendant le cycle cellulaire conduit au recrutement de cGAS à l'ADN nucléaire. En jouant sur la localisation cGAS, nous avons montré que le cGAS est peu actif lorsqu'il se trouve dans le noyau et la transfection d'ADN exogène permet son activité enzymatique complète. L'expression du cGAS localisé dans le noyau des DC a conduit à la maturation des DC et à la production d'interféron de type I (IFN). La région N-terminale de cGAS régule la distribution nucléaire / cytoplasmique de cGAS dans les cellules en interphases et nous avons établi que les lamines A / C sont requises pour l'accès de cGAS à l'ADN nucléaire dans les DC migrantes. De façon inattendue, nous montrons que cGAS n'est pas activé lors de la rupture de l'enveloppe nucléaire. Enfin, nous identifions l'hétérochromatine pericentromérique comme étant l'ADN de liaison préférentielle pour le cGAS nucléaire exprimé dans les DC. Au total, notre étude montre que le noyau agit comme un site intracellulaire immunitaire privilégié pour l'activation de cGAS. Collectivement, nous avons montré une pertinence de l'activation de cGAS lors d'une infection virale et découvert un mécanisme « cheval de Troie » de l'incorporation de cGAMP dans la progénie virale. Nous avons également décrit des mécanismes, encore à définir, qui limitent les réponses à l'ADN de la chromatine dans le noyau. À mesure que les preuves augmentent sur la prise en charge de cGAS en réponse à des agents pathogènes, dans des maladies auto-immunes, en réponse aux dommages causés par l'ADN et dans le développement de la sénescence cellulaire, (...) / Nucleic acids are potent activators of innate immune responses. To control infections, multicellular organisms have developed multiple ways to detect pathogens. One of these is the recognition of DNA in the cytoplasm. Presence of DNA in the cytoplasm is usually linked to infections by bacteria or viruses, such as HIV. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is an essential cytosolic sensor for DNA in mammals. Upon DNA recognition, cGAS synthetizes the small second messenger cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which activates innate immune signaling pathways. cGAS plays a pivotal role in response to microbes and in the development of autoimmune diseases such as interferonopathies. This thesis investigate the role of cGAS in response to viruses and to self DNA. By exploring the cGAS-mediated response to HIV, we found that in cells producing virus, cGAS-synthesized cGAMP is packaged in viral particles and extracellular vesicles. Viral particles efficiently deliver cGAMP to target cells and activate a potent antiviral response. The transfer of cGAMP requires cGAS catalytic activity and fusion of the viral particles with the target cells. We also showed that in the context of an infection, DNA viruses such as MVA and mCMV can package cGAMP. Therefore viral mediated cGAMP transfer is a generalized defense mechanism of the innate immune system. We further investigated cGAS activation by DNA focusing our attention on nuclear chromatin DNA. In eukaryotic cells, DNA is compartmentalized in two organelles: the nucleus and the mitochondrion. Nuclear compartmentalization of DNA can be transiently lost upon nuclear envelope breakdown during cell division and upon nuclear envelope ruptures in migrating dendritic cells (DCs). We found that nuclear envelope breakdown or loss of nuclear envelope integrity leads to cGAS recruitment on the nuclear DNA. We also showed that DCs present with a nuclear pool of cGAS at steady state. Nuclear envelope breakdown during cell cycle leads to cGAS recruitment to the nuclear DNA. By manipulating cGAS localization, we showed that cGAS is poorly active when in the nucleus, and that providing exogenous DNA unmasked its full enzymatic activity. Expression of nuclear localized-cGAS in DCs leads to DCs maturation and Type I interferon (IFN) production. The N-terminal region of cGAS regulates cGAS nuclear/cytoplasmic distribution in interphase cells and we established Lamin A/C as required for cGAS accessibility to nuclear DNA in migrating DCs. Unexpectedly, we show that cGAS is not activated upon nuclear envelope rupture. Finally, we identify the pericentromeric heterochromatin as the preferential binding DNA for expressed nuclear cGAS in DCs. Altogether, our study shows the nucleus to act as an intracellular immune-privileged site for the activation of cGAS. Collectively, we have shown relevance of cGAS activation upon viral infection and uncovered a Trojan horse mechanism of cGAMP incorporation in the viral progeny. We have also described yet to be defined regulatory mechanisms that limit responses towards chromatin DNA in the nucleus. As evidence grows for cGAS involvement in response to pathogens, in autoimmune diseases, in response to DNA damage and in the development of cell senescence, fully understanding the mechanisms of distinction between self and pathogen related DNA by the sensor will be important to develop effective means to regulate the pathway.

En plus des facteurs environnementaux et démographiques, les propriétés génétiques des populations sont devenues une préoccupation majeure pour préserver les populations en déclin de l'extinction. Afin d’acquérir des informations pertinentes pour la planification et la mise en œuvre des stratégies de conservation, les biologistes de la conservation ont réalisé le besoin d’avoir des connaissances en génétique des populations. Grace à l'acquisition de plus en plus rapide et de moins en moins chère d'une large gamme de marqueurs moléculaires, le recours a l’usage de l’outil moléculaire se répand de plus en plus. Ainsi, la génétique de la conservation se confirme comme une discipline à part entière qui est donc l’utilisation de la génétique dans la préservation des espèces comme entités dynamiques capables d'évoluer pour faire face aux changements environnementaux et afin de minimiser leur risque d'extinction. Par le biais de l’utilisation d’un large panel de marqueurs moléculaires (gènes mitochondriaux et nucléaires, microsatellites et SNPs), nous nous sommes intéresse à l’histoire évolutive à différentes échelles spatio-temporelles de la sous-espèce ouest méditerranéenne Testudo. hermanni hermanni (THH), qui présente une distribution insulaire et continentale très fragmentée. Le but de ce travail consiste à 1) comprendre les processus qui expliqueraient la distribution actuelle de la diversité génétique des populations et leur structure, 2) identifier l'origine des populations introduites (à Minorque et au Delta de l’Ebre), et 3) dater l’origine de la sous espèce THH. A l’échelle des populations, il s’agit d’identifier le nombre de groupes génétiques homogènes chez la tortue d’Hermann et le degré de différentiation génétique entre ces groupes afin de définir des unités de conservation évolutivement significatives (ESU) et des unités de gestion (MU). Enfin, nous nous sommes intéresses à l’étude des derniers noyaux de populations de THH dans le Var par des approches de génétique du paysage. Nos résultats ont révélé qu’une divergence par vicariance est à l’ origine de l’apparition de la sous-espèce T.h. hermanni. Ce scenario biogéographique s’expliquerait par les successions d’évènements glaciaires et interglaciaires qu’a connu le Pléistocène depuis plus de 2 MA provoquant un mouvement de retrait de l’espèce vers des zones refuges sur la frange côtière nord-méditerranéenne. Par ailleurs, le patron de différentiation mitochondriale Ile-continent observe et confirme par les microsatellites est très original par rapport à ce qui est connu chez d’autres espèces de reptiles partageant la même aire de distribution. Au vue de l’analyse phylogénétique confirmée par les microsatellites, on peut affirmer que la tortue d’Hermann n’est pas native sur Minorque et qu’elle a une double origine : la première, résultant d’une introduction à partir d’une seule source, probablement d’une population continentale génétiquement proche des Albères. La seconde d'origine insulaire, serait le résultat d’apports multiples, à partir de la Corse, de la Sardaigne ou de la Sicile. Enfin, l’isolement des populations de THH au sein de chaque région géographique reflète une structure génétique très forte. Par conséquent, six unités de gestion (MUs) sont proposées comme unités de conservation et de suivi sur le terrain. / In addition to environmental and demographic factors, the study of genetic properties of populations became inevitable issues in the conservation of declining populations. To acquire relevant information for conservation planning and implementing conservation strategies, conservationists have realized the need of population genetics tools. Moreover, this discipline has become more efficient with the development of a wide range of effective and relatively cheap methods for the characterization of a huge number of molecular markers. This led to define the conservation genetics as a separate discipline, which is the use of genetics in species preservation as dynamic entities evolving to cope with environmental changes and to minimize their extinction risk. Using a broad panel of molecular markers (mitochondrial and nuclear genes, microsatellites and SNPs), we interested in the evolutionary history at different spatial and temporal scales of the Mediterranean western subspecies Testudo hermanni hermanni (THH), which presents a very fragmented insular and continental distribution. The aim of this study is to 1) understand the processes that explain the current distribution of the structure and genetic diversity of populations, 2) identify the origin of introduced populations (Menorca and Ebro Delta) and 3) Dating the origin of the subspecies THH. At the population level, our study aimed to identify the number of homogeneous genetic groups of THH tortoise and the degree of genetic differentiation between these groups in order to identify evolutionarily significant units (ESU) and management units (MU). Finally, we were interested in the study of the last core populations of THH in the Var by landscape genetics approach. Our results revealed that a divergence by vicariance pattern explains the origin of the appearance of the subspecies THH. This biogeographic scenario is explained by the succession of glacial and interglacial events of the Pleistocene causing a withdrawal of the species toward refugia on the northern Mediterranean fringe. Moreover, the observed differentiation pattern (island vs continent) is very original compared to the reported diversity patterns of other reptiles sharing the same distribution range. According to our results, we may conclude that the Hermann’s tortoise is not native in Menorca and has a double origin: the first, is an introduction resulting from a unique source, probably from a continental lineage genetically close to Albera. The second, from an island origin, is the result of multiple contributions, from Corsica, Sardinia or Sicily. Lastly,the isolation of THH populations within each geographic region reflects a very strong genetic structure, therefor the six most relevant management units forconservation purposes are proposed on the basis that they represent a significant part of the evolutionary legacy of the species.