Abstract
The Assam Roofed Turtle, Pangshura sylhetensis is an endangered and least studied species endemic to India and Bangladesh. The present study decodes the first complete mitochondrial genome of P. sylhetensis (16,568 bp) by using next-generation sequencing. The assembly encodes 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and one control region (CR). Most of the genes were encoded on the majority strand, except NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (nad6) and eight tRNAs. All PCGs start with an ATG initiation codon, except for Cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 (nad5), which both start with GTG codon. The study also found the typical cloverleaf secondary structures in most of the predicted tRNA structures, except for serine (trnS1) which lacks of conventional DHU arm and loop. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic inference using 13 concatenated PCGs demonstrated strong support for the monophyly of all 52 Testudines species within their respective families and revealed Batagur trivittata as the nearest neighbor of P. sylhetensis. The mitogenomic phylogeny with other amniotes is congruent with previous research, supporting the sister relationship of Testudines and Archosaurians (birds and crocodilians). Additionally, the mitochondrial Gene Order (GO) analysis indicated plesiomorphy with the typical vertebrate GO in most of the Testudines species.
Highlights
The evolution of living organisms is a continuous process over generations and difficult to understand by measuring with a distinct speciation hypothesis [1]
The mitogenome (16,568 bp) of the endangered Assam Roofed turtle, P. sylhetensis was determined in the present study
The nucleotide composition of the P. sylhetensis mitogenome was A+T biased (59.27%), as is the case in all other Testudines mitogenomes ranging from 57.76% (Pleurodiran species P. hilarii) to 64.19% (Cryptodiran species Kinosternon leucostomum) (S4 Table)
Summary
The evolution of living organisms is a continuous process over generations and difficult to understand by measuring with a distinct speciation hypothesis [1]. Several biological as well as environmental factors play an important role in the mutations of a gene from one generation to the leading to an altered gene in a new species from an ancestral population. Apart from natural selection, the genetic traits of a population are often altered randomly, forced by several biotic/abiotic factors, gradually leading to the evolutionary dynamics of a species. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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