Abstract
An unusually high divergence was observed in the ribosomal RNA genes of a free-living population of foraminifera belonging to the genusAmmonia. The sequences of a large-subunit (LSU) rDNA expansion segment D1 and flanking regions were obtained from 20 specimens namedAmmonia sp. 1 andAmmonia sp. 2. The sequence divergence between the two species averages 14%. Within each species it ranges from 0.2% to 7.1% inAmmonia sp. 1 and from 0.7% to 2.3% inAmmonia sp. 2. We did not find two specimens having identical sequences. Moreover, in opposition to the generally acaepted view, rDNA sequence variations were also found within a single individual. The variations among several rDNA copies in a single specimen ofAmmonia may reach up to 4.9%. Most of the observed variations result from multiplication of CA or TA serial repeats occurring in two particularly variable regions. For single base changes, C-T transitions are most frequently observed. We discuss the evolution of expansion segments and their use for phylogenetic studies.
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Holzmann, M., Piller, W. & Pawlowski, J. Sequence variations in the large-subunit ribosomal RNA gene of ammonia (foraminifera, protozoa) and their evolutionary implications. J Mol Evol 43, 145–151 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337359
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02337359