Restriction Endonuclease Analysis of Salmonid Mitochondrial DNA

Abstract

We have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA from four species of the teleost subfamily Salmoninae using restriction endonucleases and found that the salmonid mitochondrial genome is slightly larger than that of the human, about 16 670 base pairs. Systematic analyses by both cladistic and phenetic methods suggest a closer phylogenetic relationship between Oncorhynchus tshawytscha and Salmo (Parasalmo) gairdneri than either has with Salmo (Salmo) trutta. Salvelinus fontinalis appears to be most distantly related of these four species. Applications of this molecular technique to a variety of genetic and population studies appear promising.