MITOCHONDRIAL 16S-RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE OF 2 SPECIES OF SHRIMPS - SEQUENCE VARIABILITY AND SECONDARY STRUCTURE

Part of the mitochondrial 16S-ribosomal RNA gene (around 400 nucleotid es) of Penaeus notialis and Penaeus schmitti has been amplified and se quenced. The comparison of sequences reveals an 11% nucleotide diverge nce between the two species. When compared with that of the homologous fragment in Artemia salina and Drosophila yakuba, the secondary struc ture appears well conserved in spite of high nucleotide divergence due to numerous substitutions and additions/deletions. Sequences have bee n obtained for six individuals of P. notialis belonging to the same po pulation, their comparison shows a 0.7% nucleotide diversity.