title: Evidence from intron 1 of the nuclear transthyretin (Prealbumin) gene for the phylogeny of African mole-rats (Bathyergidae).
abstract: A 900- to 1100-bp fragment encompassing intron 1 of the nuclear transthyretin (prealbumin) gene was examined in 12 taxa of Old World hystricognath rodents of the families Bathyergidae, Petromuridae, Thryonomyidae, and Hystricidae. Within the Bathyergidae, Heterocephalus glaber (naked mole-rat) was basal, and the other East African species, Heliophobius argenteocinereus (silvery mole-rat), was sister to a southern African clade containing Bathyergus, Cryptomys, and Georychus (dune, common, and cape mole-rats). These results are congruent with studies using mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene sequences. A combined analysis of transthyretin and 12S rRNA data resulted in a well-supported topology with better resolution than either gene analyzed separately. These data support the findings by M. W. Allard and R. L. Honeycutt (1992, Mol. Biol. Evol. 9: 27-40) and R. L. Honeycutt (1992, Am. Sci. 80: 43-53) that complex social systems evolved independently at least twice, in the common and naked mole-rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA. awalton@depillis.org
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nedbal
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Honeycutt
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D007438:Introns; D019577:Mole Rats / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000235:genetics*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D011228:Prealbumin; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; C075526:RNA, ribosomal, 12S; D004247:DNA