Mammalian microevolution: Rapid change in mouse mitochondrial DNA.

Abstract

Wild mice around Chicago may have switched genotype to keep pace with modern living. We have compared the sequences of mitochondrial DNA extracted from museum skins of white-footed mice caught in the Chicago area since 1855 and from modern mice trapped alive in the same locations. We found a consistently similar directional change of mouse genotype over this period at each of five collection sites that were separated by 10–70 km. The genotype most common 100 years ago is now extremely rare, indicating that the mammalian mitochondrial genome can undergo rapid evolution.