title: Genetic differentiation of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase C subunit I gene in genus Paramecium (Protista, Ciliophora).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene is being used increasingly for evaluating inter- and intra-specific genetic diversity of ciliated protists. However, very few studies focus on assessing genetic divergence of the COI gene within individuals and how its presence might affect species identification and population structure analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated the genetic variation of the COI gene in five Paramecium species for a total of 147 clones derived from 21 individuals and 7 populations. We identified a total of 90 haplotypes with several individuals carrying more than one haplotype. Parsimony network and phylogenetic tree analyses revealed that intra-individual diversity had no effect in species identification and only a minor effect on population structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the COI gene is a suitable marker for resolving inter- and intra-specific relationships of Paramecium spp.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Protozoology, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China ; Laboratory of Protozoology, College of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gentekaki
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D006239:Haplotypes; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010247:Paramecium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV