Evidence for hybridization-driven heteroplasmy maintained across generations in a ricefish endemic to a Wallacean ancient lake

In this study, we cloned the ND2 gene for some additional individuals with heterozygous sites and demonstrated that they are truly heteroplasmic. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the extra haplotype within the heteroplasmic O. matanensis individuals clustered with haplotypes of O. marmoratus, a congeneric species inhabiting adjacent lakes. This indicated that the heteroplasmy originated from paternal leakage due to interspecific hybridization. The extra haplotype was unique and contained two non-synonymous substitutions. These findings demonstrate that this hybridization-driven heteroplasmy was maintained across generations for a long time to the extent that the extra mitochondria evolved within the new host.PMID:38503345 | PMC:PMC10950462 | DOI:10.1098/rsbl.2023.0385
Source: Biology Letters - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: research