Molecular Systematics of the Lower Lepidoptera

昆虫内部的系统发育关系， 这是一个尚未解决的系统性问题。 核苷酸序列特征可能是答案的关键部分， 但只有少数研究，主要是基于相同的 基因 一个模式系统是庞大的鳞翅目 (150千种），无数比较研究的主题 程序，其良好的研究基础关系提供了一个强大的 测试新分子的效用。 在这个项目之前， 计算机搜索、Southern杂交和聚合酶链 PCR研究用于鉴定五种先前 未经测试的核基因，似乎适合更高水平的 遗传学（延伸因子-l（α），最大的亚基， RNA聚合酶II，多巴脱羧酶，延伸因子-2， 磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧激酶）。 寡核苷酸引物 所有五个基因的合成，加上核核糖体RNA 基因，并测试了成功的基因组扩增， 原始的鳞翅目和相关的鳞翅目。 的部分 延伸因子-1（alpha）和核糖体基因已经被 对6个和11个分类群的PCR产物直接测序， 分别 结果树，根据几个分析 方法，与形态学一致。 其他研究将完成对潜在 信息核基因测序的大部分， 延伸因子1（α），RNA聚合酶II和核糖体 在15个物种中的基因，共同代表了强烈的关系 支持的形态内的基础鳞翅目和密切 相关命令 独立分析构建的树 每个基因将被测试彼此之间的一致性， 形态学的遗传学。 对于表现出强烈的 一致性，分析将扩展到一个额外的 20种蛾类，一式两份，所有主要的低 鳞翅目谱系，包括有问题的关系; 足够保守的基因将另外用于 开始了一个更广泛的研究之间的关系，蝗虫订单。

Phylogenetic relationships within insects, the most diverse class of organisms, are a major unsolved systematic problem. Nucleotide sequence characters could be a key part of the answer, but there have been only a few studies, based mostly on the same gene. One model system is the enormous order Lepidoptera (150,000 species), subject of innumerable comparative research programs whose well-studied basal relationships provide a strong test for the utility of new molecules. Prior to this project, computer search, Southern hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were used to identify five previously untested nuclear genes which appear suitable for higher-level phylogenetics (elongation factor-l (alpha), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, dopa decarboxylase, elongation factor-2, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase). Oligonucleotide primers were synthesized for all five genes, plus the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene, and tested for successful genomic amplification in primitive Lepidoptera and related panorpoid orders. Portions of the elongation factor-1 (alpha) and ribosomal genes have been sequenced directly from PCR products for 6 and 11 taxa, respectively. The resulting trees, under several analytical methods, show concordance with morphology. Additional studies will complete evaluation of potentially informative nuclear genes by sequencing larger portions of elongation factor 1 (alpha), RNA polymerase II and the ribosomal gene in 15 species that together represent relationships strongly supported by morphology within basal Lepidoptera and closely related orders. Trees constructed by independent analyses of each gene will be tested for concordance with each other and with the morphological phylogeny. For genes showing strong concordance, the analysis will then be extended to an additional 20 moth species that sample, in duplicate, all major lower lepidopteran lineages, including problematic relationships; sufficiently conservative genes will additionally be used to initiate a broader study of relationships among panorpoid orders.