This PhD Thesis is the result of my research activity in the last three years. My main research
interest was centered on the evolution of mitochondrial genome (mtDNA), and on its usefulness as
a phylogeographic and phylogenetic marker at different taxonomic levels in different taxa of
Metazoa. From a methodological standpoint, my main effort was dedicated to the sequencing of
complete mitochondrial genomes, and the approach to whole-genome sequencing was based on the
application of Long-PCR and shotgun sequences. Moreover, this research project is a part of a
bigger sequencing project of mtDNAs in many different Metazoans’ taxa, and I mostly dedicated
myself to sequence and analyze mtDNAs in selected taxa of bivalves and hexapods (Insecta).
Sequences of bivalve mtDNAs are particularly limited, and my study contributed to extend the
sampling. Moreover, I used the bivalve Musculista senhousia as model taxon to investigate the
molecular mechanisms and the evolutionary significance of their aberrant mode of mitochondrial
inheritance (Doubly Uniparental Inheritance, see below).
In Insects, I focused my attention on the Genus Bacillus (Insecta Phasmida). A detailed
phylogenetic analysis was performed in order to assess phylogenetic relationships within the genus,
and to investigate the placement of Phasmida in the phylogenetic tree of Insecta. The main goal of
this part of my study was to add to the taxonomic coverage of sequenced mtDNAs in basal insects,
which were only partially analyzed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:unibo.it/oai:amsdottorato.cib.unibo.it:1875 |
| Date | 18 May 2009 |
| Creators | Ricci, Andrea <1972> |
| Contributors | Passamonti, Marco |
| Publisher | Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna |
| Source Sets | Università di Bologna |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Doctoral Thesis, PeerReviewed |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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