Comparative mitochondrial genomics of Bilateria

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Mitochondrial genomes provide a powerful set of data for phylogenetic analyses among bilaterian animals. Besides pure sequence data a multitude of additional information is useful in phylogenetic contexts, e.g. gene rearrangements, duplication or loss of genes, secondary structures of tRNAs and rRNAs, as well as changes in the mitochondrial genetic code. In the preceding project we could close some important gaps of bilaterian taxa without complete mitogenomic data (e.g. Onychophora, Tardigrada, Sipuncula, Myzostomida, Nemertea). But there are still high-ranking taxa without sequence records of complete mitochondrial genomes, e.g. Pterobranchia, Acoelomorpha, Gnathostomulida, Nematomorpha. In other taxa a great variation of mitochondrial gene order is found, so more data is in need for a better understanding of the mode of genome rearrangements in these taxa. These include e.g. Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, Tunicata, non-parasitic Platyhelminthes. One main objective of the study is to provide a detailed scenario of mitochondrial genome evolution among Bilateria.