The mitochondrial genomes of cnidarians have been used as a tool for examining the phylogenetic relationships in the phylum Cnidaria. Bridge et al., using the structure of mitochondrial DNA to examine the relationships among classes of cnidarians have obtained evidence which suggests that Anthozoa occupies a basal position within the phylum Cnidaria. The reference for this work is:
Bridge, D., C.W. Cunningham, B.Schierwater, R. DeSalle, and L.W. Buss (1992). Class- level relationships in the phylum Cnidaria: evidence from mitochondrial genome structure. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89, 8750-8753.
A portion of the mitochondrial genome of the anthozoan Metridium senile has been sequenced These sequence data indicate that most of the unusual features of metazoan mitochondrial genetic codes, rRNAs, and probably tRNAs developed after divergence of the Cnidarian line from the ancestral line common to other metazoa. The reference for this work is:
Pont-Kingdon GA; Beagley CT; Okimoto R; Wolstenholme DR (1994). Mitochondrial DNA of the sea anemone, Metridium senile (Cnidaria): prokaryote-like genes for tRNA(f-Met) and small-subunit ribosomal RNA, and standard genetic code specificities for AGR and ATA codons. Journal of Molecular Evolution 39:387-399.
The most thoroughly studied cnidarian mitochondrial genome is that of Hydra. For more information on the Hydra mitochondrial genome click here.
For additional information on evolution of Anthozoa contact Diane Bridge at bridged@etown.edu.
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