title: alpha-Crystallin sequences support a galliform/anseriform clade.
abstract: An unresolved issue in higher avian systematics is the position of the fowl-like and the duck-like birds, Galliformes and Anseriformes, respectively. Most studies place these orders at the base of the neognath radiation. While DNA hybridization data support a sister-group relationship of Galliformes and Anseriformes, macromolecular sequence analyses have not yet been able to provide a clear-cut answer. In this study, we present nucleotide sequences coding for the eye lens proteins alpha A- and alpha B-crystallin of a palaeognath, a galliform, an anseriform, and two other neognathous birds. Phylogenetic analyses of this data set clearly support a galliform/anseriform clade, to the exclusion of other neognaths.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Caspers
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uit de Weerd
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wattel
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D002645:Chickens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004372:Ducks / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D003459:Crystallins; D004247:DNA