Molecular Phylogeny of Microorganisms: Is rRNA Still a Useful Marker?
Wolfgang Ludwig
from: Molecular Phylogeny of Microorganisms (Edited by: Aharon Oren and R. Thane Papke). Caister Academic Press, U.K. (2010)
Abstract
The introduction of comparative rRNA sequence analysis certainly represents a major milestone in the history of microbiology. The current taxonomy of prokaryotes as well as modern probe and chip based identification methods are mainly based upon rRNA derived phylogenetic conclusions. The significance of single gene based phylogenetic inference was evaluated by including alternative global markers such as elongation and initiation factors, RNA polymerase subunits, DNA gyrases, heat shock and recA proteins. Although the comparative analyses are hampered by the generally low phylogenetic information content, and different resolution power, and multiple copies of the individual markers, the domain and prokaryotic phyla concept is globally supported read more ...
