The value of repetitive sequences in chloroplast DNA for phylogeographic inference: a comment on Vachon & Freeland 2011.

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Panamá, Republic of Panamá. kristin.saltonstall@aya.yale.edu

Molecular ecology resources 2012 Jul

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In a recent Technical Advance article, Vachon and Freeland (2011, Molecular Ecology Resources, 11, 279-285.) evaluate the utility of repetitive and non-repetitive variation in the chloroplast genome for phylogeographic inference, using variation in Phragmites australis as an example. While we agree that repetitive and nonrepetitive regions evolve at different rates and homoplasy can impact results, we disagree with the conclusion that repetitive regions are inappropriate for large-scale phylogeographic studies. Here we describe limitations to the study dataset and analysis, and provide an alternative viewpoint on the utility of repetitive regions for phylogeographic studies. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Citation

Kristin Saltonstall, Carla Lambertini. The value of repetitive sequences in chloroplast DNA for phylogeographic inference: a comment on Vachon & Freeland 2011. Molecular ecology resources. 2012 Jul;12(4):581-5; discussion 586-9