THE PRIMARY STRUCTURE OF HARPALUS RUFIPES 5S RIBOSOMAL-RNA - A CONTRIBUTION FOR UNDERSTANDING INSECT EVOLUTION

The nucleotide sequence of 5S ribosomal RNA from the beetle Harpalus r ufipes was determined and compared with primary structures of other in sect 5S rRNAs. Sequence differences between two beetle 5S rRNAs may re present phylogenetic markers specific for two groups of Coleoptera - A dephaga and Polyphaga. Analysis of all insect sequences using parsimon y allowed us to infer a phylogenetic tree of insects, which is consist ent with morphological and paleobiological data.