NUCLEAR INTEGRATIONS - CHALLENGES FOR MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA MARKERS

The combined use of mitochondrial DNA markers and polymerase chain rea ction (PCR) techniques has greatly enhanced evolutionary studies. Thes e techniques have also promoted the discovery of mitochondrial-like se quences in the nuclear genomes of many animals. While the nuclear sequ ences themselves are interesting, and capable of serving as valuable m olecular tools, they can also confound phylogenetic and population gen etic studies. Clearly, a better understanding of these phenomena and v igilance towards misleading data are needed.