DNA sequencing gelForward reaction DNA sequence (e value: 5e-44)GCCGTTGTTGAGTCGCAACAAAAAGCCCCCACCTTTCGGTGGGGGCTTTCCGATTCAACTGACGCTGAATCTTTTGGAGACTTCAGCCTCAGCCGATGGCGReverse reaction DNA sequence (e value: 5e-44)GGCATCCGTGAGCCCGTCGCTGGCTCCCTGATCTACGGCAACAACATCATCTCCGGTGCTGTTGTGCCCTCCTCGAACGCCATCGGCCTTCACTTCTATCCThe sequenced gene belongs to the psbA multigene family and codes for the D1 protein of photosystem II (PSII) in cyanobacteria such as Synechococcus WH7803. The D1 protein forms the core of the PSIIs reaction centre as a heterodimer with the D2 protein. When light is absorbed, the heterodimer undergoes charge separation and the electrons get transferred from chlorophyll A via phaeophytin to the primary acceptor (quinone Qa) then to the secondary acceptor 9Qb), and the process results in the production of ATP. (Edelman and Kattoo 2008)The primer site for the reverse reaction is closer to the C terminus than the primer for the forward reaction.Identifying ORFs, promoter regions and intron/exon boundariesThe protein encoded by the DNA sequence is myoglobin, which is a globular protein made of 153 amino acids and an embedded heme group. It is an oxygen-carrying molecule (like haemoglobin), found in the cardiac and skeletal muscle of most vertebrates, and can also be present in invertebrates and bacteria (Ferreras et al 2016). During periods of increased metabolic activity, myoglobin facilitates the transport of oxygen from red blood cells to mitochondria, and it can serve as a reservoir in anoxic conditions (e.g. the muscle tissues of diving birds and mammals are particularly abundant in myoglobin). (Ordway and Garry 2004)AATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATCTATAATTGACTTCAATCAAAATGTTCCAGATCAACTTAGGAGGTGTTGTGAACATTTGAAGTGTGGTGAGAGGATGGGAGGTCTGGAATAATTTGGTGATATGACGGTGAAGGGAGTATAAAAGGTCAGCTTTGAGGGGGGAAGTCAGGTCAAGAAGAATTTTGTACAACATCACACAGGACATTTTACTACTCTGCAGGTAAAAATTTTGTAATTGTTTAAATGTAATGAGGATAATAGGGTATAAGGACAGAGAATTGTCATTGTGGGAAATATTTTAACCCAAACCAATATAAGAAATAAAGCAGTTTTTAAGTGCCAAGGTTAGTATTGAAGAAATAAAAAGGTATTTATAACCATGTAACAGCTCAAGAGCATCATCTGATTTCACTTCACATGAATTGTGCAGGGCTTCACCAAGGTTACAGTGCAGACTCAGTGAGGGCAGCTGAGGTGATGAAGACGCCTCTTTCTAATAATGACTCACACTTGTTCAGCAGTGACTGCACACAATGAAACGGTGGATGTGTACCTTGATATGATCAGAGACCTTCTGTGCTTTTATTATATATTATATATACCTCCTCAGATAATGGCTGACTTTGACATGGTACTGAAGTGCTGGGGTCCAATGGAGGCGGACCACGCAACCCACGGGAGTCTGGTGCTGACCCGGTACTACCAGATTAAATGAATCTGCCCTCTGGTCAGGAGGTTTGCAGGGCTGTACAAAAGTTTTTTGAAGGCACATTATTTTTCATTAAGTTCACATTAAATGTGAGGCCATGACAGTGATACATCAATATAGATTGATATAAATTAATTTACAAGTCAACAATCCATACAAATCATCATTTTTAAGATTTAGAATAAACATGTCTTTTGAAGTAAAACAGGCTGTTTTCCTAATGTATTTAATTTATTAGATTTTCTTTTATTTGTATAAAGAAGAATATATATGTTTTTTATATCTAAATGGGTCTAATAGTTGTTCTAAACATAACTGAATCTGTTAGACTTTGTGATATCAGCAAATATTGTATTGATGTCAAAGAATAAATATAGAATATATTATCATATTGTGATAAACTTGTGATTTAAACCCCTTGTCCTCAGTTGTGAGTGTTATTTCAGGTGAACCCTCACATTTCCTTTTCCTCGCAGTTTATTCACAGAGCACCCAGAAACCCTAAAGTTATTCCCCAAGTTTGCTGGCATCGCCCATGGGGACCTGGCCGGGGATGCAGGTGTTTCTGCCCACGGTGCCACAGTGCTGAATAAACTGGGTGATCTGCTGAAGGCCAGAGGCGCCCACGCTGCCCTCCTCAAACCTCTGTCCAGCAGCCACGCCACCAAGCACAAGATCCCCATTATTAACTTCAAGGTGAGTTTGATTGACATGAGGGCAAGTTCGAACGTATCTAGACCATTGTGGTTTGATCTTTCCTCCAACTTTTTGTGTCCTCCAACCTATTTTAAAGCATTTTTTGTGATTCTTGTTTTCAGCTGATTGCAGAGGTCATTGGTAAAGTCATGGAGGAGAAGGCGGGACTGGATGCCGCCGGGCAGACTGCCCTGAGGAACGTGATGGCCATCATCATCACTGACATGGAGGCCGACTACAAAGAGCTGGGCTTCACTGAATGAAGATCAGATTCACAAAGTTTTGGCGACGACAGACAGGAAAATGTACCACATGCAAAAATAAAATGATAAAAATGGTCTGATTTTCTGTAAGCCTAATTAAATAATGTTTGCAATGAAATTAAATCAATCAATCAATCAATCAATCAATGTTTATTTATATAGCCCAATATCACAAATGTTACATTTGTCTCAGTGGTCTTCACAGTGTGTACAGAATATCAGTATGACAATACGACACCCTCTGTCCTTAGACCCTCACATCGTACAAGGAAAAACTTCCAAAGAAAACCCAGTTTAAAGGGAAAAATGGGAGAAACCTCAGGGAGAGCAACAGAGGAGGGATCCCTCTCCCCAGGACGGACAGACGTGCAATAGATGCCGTGTTGTTAAATTGAAAAGATAAATACATTTGCAACATAGGTAGTCCCAATGTTTGGGAAATGCATGTTGTTGTTATTAATAGGAAGATGAATCCCCCGAGGATATCCATCCCAGAACCTATGATCCCAGAACCACAGCCACGAATCCAGATTCCAGCGCTCCGCGAACCCAGAACCCGGACCGCGGGATTCTCCCTGAATCCGGATCCCAGCGTTAlignment of splice sites:Consensus A/C A G G UIntron1 C C G G TExon1 C A G T TIntron2 A A G G TExon2 C A G C TAligning sequences using ClustalXgunnari ATGGCTGACTTTGACATGGTGCTGAAGTGCTGGGGTCCAGTGGAGGCGGACCACGCAACCspinosus ATGGCTGACTTTGACATGGTACTGAAGTGCTGGGGTCCAATGGAGGCGGACCACGCAACC ******************** ****************** ********************gunnari CACGGGAGTCTGGTGCTGACCCGTTTATTCACAGAGCACCCAGAAACCTTGAAGTTATTCspinosus CACGGGAGTCTGGTGCTGACCCGTTTATTCACAGAGCACCCAGAAACCCTAAAGTTATTC ************************************************ * *********gunnari CCCAAGTTTGCCGGCATCGCCCATGGGGACCTGGCCGGGGATGCAGGTGTTTCTGCCCACspinosus CCCAAGTTTGCTGGCATCGCCCATGGGGACCTGGCCGGGGATGCAGGTGTTTCTGCCCAC *********** ************************************************gunnari GGTGCCACAGTGCTGAATAAACTGGGCGATCTGCTGAAGGCCAGAGGCGCCCACGCTGCCspinosus GGTGCCACAGTGCTGAATAAACTGGGTGATCTGCTGAAGGCCAGAGGCGCCCACGCTGCC ************************** *********************************gunnari CTCCCCAAACCTCTGTCCAGCAGCCACGCCACGCCACCAAGCACAAGATCCCCATTATTAspinosus CTCCTCAAACCTCTGTCCAGCAGCCACGCCACCAAGCACAAGATCCCCATTATTA **** *********************** ***************************gunnari ACTTCAAGCTGAspinosus ACTTCAAGCTGATTGCAGAGGTCATTGGTAAAGTCATGGAGGAGAAGGCGGGACTGGATG ************ gunnari spinosus CCGCCGGGCAGACTGCCCTGAGGAACGTGATGGCCATCATCATCACTGACATGGAGGCCGgunnari spinosus ACTACAAAGAGCTGGGCTTCACTGAATGAPoint mutations:PositionC. gunnari codonAmino acidC. spinosus codonAmino acid21GTGValineGTAValine40GTGValineATGMethionine109 and 111TTGLeucineCTALeucine132GCCAlanineGCTAlanine207GGCGlycineGGTGlycine245CCCProlineCTCLeucinePoint mutations usually occur at the third nucleotide of a codon. One reason for this might be that a change in the third nucleotide rarely causes a change in the encoded amino acid. This is a silent change that will not lead to a mutant phenotype and can be passed on to daughter cells without being corrected.Translation of C.gunnari sequence from position 241:CTCCCCAAACCTCTGTCCAGCAGCCACGCCACGCCACCAAGCACAAGATCCCCATTATTAACTTCAAGCTGA L P K P L S S S H A T P P S T R S P L L T S S stop 264 269C. spinosus would be AGCCACGCCACCAAGCACAAGATCCCCATTATTAACTTCAAGCTGA S H A T K H K I P I I N F K LThe CCACG sequence (positions 264-268 in C. spinosus) gets duplicated and the duplicate is inserted between nucleotides 268 and 269. This insertion moves the reading frame in the C. gunnari:- GCC to GCC: same amino acid (A) so not corrected- ACC to ACG: same amino acid (T) so not corrected- AAG to CCA: P instead of K, and then nonsense until reaching premature stop codonAligned myoglobin sequencesicefish FDMVLKCWGPMEADHATHGSLVLTRLFTEHPETLKLFPKFAGIAH-GDLAGDAGVSAHGAtuna FDAVLKCWGPVEADYTTIGGLVLTRLFKEHPDTQKLFPKFAGIAQ-ADLAGNAAISAHGApufferfish FDMVLKFWGPVEADYSAHGGMVLTRLFTENPETQQLFPKFVGIAQ-SELAGNAAVSAHGACod YDLVLRCWGPVEADYNTHGGLVLTRLFTEHPDTQKLFPKLAGVGELAASVAVASHGAcarp AELVLKCWGGVEADFEGTGGEVLTRLFKQHPETQKLFPKFVGIAS-NELAGNAAVKAHGAsealion WQLVLNIWGKVEADLVGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKRSEDLKKHGKdog WQLVLNIWGKVETDLAGHGQEVLIRLFKNHPETLDKFDKFKHLKTEDEMKGSEDLKKHGNzebra WQQVLNVWGKVEADIAGHGQEVLIRLFTGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGThorse WQQVLNVWGKVEADIAGHGQEVLIRLFTGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGTtibetan-antelope WQLVLNAWGKVEADVAGHGQEVLIRLFTGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGNhumpbackwhale WQLVLNIWAKVEADVAGHGQDILIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGNminkewhale WHLVLNIWAKVEADVAGHGQDILIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGNseiwhale WQLVLNIWAKVEADVAGHGQDILIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGNspermwhale WQLVLHVWAKVEADVAGHGQDILIRLFKSHPETLEKFDRFKHLKTEAEMKASEDLKKHGVdolphin WQLVLNVWGKVEADLAGHGQDVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKTEADMKASEDLKKHGNrabbit WQLVLNVWGKVEADLAGHGQEVLIRLFHTHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGNhuman WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGAchimpanzee WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGAgorilla WQLVLNVWGKVEADISGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGAOrangutan WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPSHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGARhesusmonkey WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPSHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGVwoollymonkey WQLVLNIWGKVEADIPSHGQEVLISLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEELKKHGVaardvark WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPGHGQDVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDRFKHLKTEDEMKASEDLKKHGThedgehog WQLVLNVWGKVEADIPGHGQEVLIRLFKDHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKSSEDLKKHGTpig WQLVLNVWGKVEADVAGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGNotter WQLVLNVWGKVEADLAGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKGSEDLKKHGNbadger WQLVLNVWGKVEADLAGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKGSEDLKKHGNpanda WQLVLNVWGKVEADLAGHGQEVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKGSEDLKKHGNkangaroo WQLVLNIWGKVETDEGGHGKDVLIRLFKGHPETLEKFDKFKHLKSEDEMKASEDLKKHGIplatypus WQLVLKVWGKVEGDLPGHGQEVLIRLFKTHPETLEKFDKFKGLKTEDEMKASADLKKHGGauklet WQQVLSIWGKVESDLAGHGHQVLMRLFQDHPETLDRFEKFKGLKTPDQMKGSEDLKKHGVCormorant WQQVLTIWGKVESDLPGHGHEVLMRLFRDHPETLDRFERFKGLKTPDQMKASEDLKKHGVostrich WQQVLTIWGKVESDIAGHGHAILMRLFQDHPETLDRFEKFKGLTTPEQMKASEELKKHGVchicken WQQVLTIWGKVEADIAGHGHEVLMRLFHDHPETLDRFDKFKGLKTPDQMKGSEDLKKHGAemperorpenguin WQQVLTMWGKVESDLAGHGHAVLMRLFKSHPETMDRFDKFRGLKTPDEMRGSEDMKKHGViguana WQKVIDIWGKVEPELPAHGQEVIIRLFQKHPETQEKFDKFKHLKSLDEMKSSEEIKKHGTLace_monitor WKKVVDIWGKVEPDLPSHGQEVIIRMFQNHPETQDRFAKFKNLKTLDEMKNSEDLKKHGTLoggerheadturtle WNHVLGIWAKVEPDLSAHGQEVIIRLFQLHPETQERFAKFKNLTTIDALKSSEEVKKHGTalligator WKHVLDIWTKVESKLPEHGHEVIIRLLQEHPETQERFEKFKHMKTADEMKSSEKMKQHGNshark WEKVNSVWSAVESDLTAIGQNILLRLFEQYPESQNHFPKFKNKS-LGELKDTADIKAQAD . * * :* . * :: :: *:: . * :: : : :.icefish TVLNKLGDLLKARGAHAALLKPLSSSHATKHKIPIINFKLIAEVIGKVMEEKAGLDAAtuna TVLKKLGELLKAKGSHASILKPMANSHATKHKIPINNFKLISEVLVKVMQEKAGLDAGpufferfish TVLKKLGELLKAKGNHAAILQPLANSHATKHKIPIKNFKLIAEVIGKVMAEKAGLDAACod TVLKKLGELLKTRGDHAALLKPLATSHANVHKIPINNFKLITEVIAKHMAEKAGLDAAcarp TVLKKLGELLKARGDHAAILKPLATTHANTHKIALNNFRLITEVLVKVMAEKAGLDAGsealion TVLTALGGILKKKGHHDAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISEAIIHVLQSKHPGDFGADdog TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISDAIIQVLQSKHSGDFHADzebra VVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISDAIIHVLHSKHPGDFGADhorse VVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISDAIIHVLHSKHPGDFGADtibetan-antelope TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEVKHLAESHANKHKIPVKYLEFISDAIIHVLHAKHPSDFGADhumpbackwhale TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISDAIIHVLHSRHPADFGADminkewhale TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISDAIIHVLHSRHPAEFGADseiwhale TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISDAIIHVLHSRHPGDFGADspermwhale TVLTALGAILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISEAIIHVLHSRHPGDFGADdolphin TVLTALGAILKKKGHHDAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISEAIIHVLHSRHPAEFGADrabbit TVLTALGAILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIIHVLHSKHPGDFGADhuman TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISECIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADchimpanzee TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISECIIQVLHSKHPGDFGADgorilla TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISECIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADOrangutan TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISESIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADRhesusmonkey TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAEIKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLELISESIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADwoollymonkey TVLTALGGILKKKGQHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISDAIIHALQKKHPGDFGADaardvark TVLTALGGILKKKGQHEAEIQPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIIQVIQSKHSGDFGADhedgehog TVLTALGGILKKKGQHEAQLAPLAQSHANKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIIQVLKSKHAGDFGADpig TVLTALGGILKKKGHHEAELTPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADotter TVLTALGGILKKKGKHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPIKYLEFISEAIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADbadger TVLTALGGILKKKGHQEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISDAIAQVLQSKHPGNFAAEpanda TVFTALGGILKKKGQHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIIQVLQSKHPGDFGADkangaroo TVLTALGNILKKKGHHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKIPVQFLEFISDAIIQVIQSKHAGNFGADplatypus TVLTALGNILKKKGQHEAELKPLAQSHATKHKISIKFLEYISEAIIHVLQSKHSADFGADauklet TVLTQLGKILKQKGNHESELKPLAQTHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEAIMKVIAEKHAADFGGDCormorant TVLTQLGKILKQKGNHESELKPLAQTHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEVIIKVIAEKHSADFGADostrich TVLTQLGKILKQKGKHEAELKPLAQTHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEVIIKVIAEKHSADFGADchicken TVLTQLGKILKQKGNHESELKPLAQTHATKHKIPVKYLEFISEVIIKVIAEKHAADFGADemperorpenguin TVLT-LGQILKKKGHHEAELKPLSQTHATKHKVPVKYLEFISEAIMKVIAQKHASNFGADiguana TVLTALGKILKQKGHHDAELAPLAQSHATKHKIPVKYLEFICEVIVGVIAEKHSADFGSELace_monitor TVLTALGRILKQKGHHEAEIAPLAQTHANTHKIPIKYLEFICEVIVGVIAEKHSADFGADLoggerheadturtle TVLTALGRILKQKNNHEQELKPLAESHATKHKIPVKYLEFICEIIVKVIAEKHPSDFGADalligator TVFTALGNILKQKGNHAEVLKPLAKSHALEHKIPVKYLEFISEIIVKVIAEKYPADFGADshark TVLSALGNIVKKKGSHSQPVKALAATHITTHKIPPHYFTKITTIAVDVLSEMYPSEMNAQ .*:. ** ::* :. : : :: :* **:. : * : . : .icefish GQTALRNVMAIIITDMEADYtuna GQTALRNVMGIIIADLEANYpufferfish GQQALRNIMATIIADIDATYCod GQEALRKVMSVVIADMDATYcarp GQSALRRVMDVVIGDIDTYYsealion THAAMKKALELFRNDIAAKYdog TEAAMKKALELFRNDIAAKYzebra AQGAMTKALELFRNDIAAKYhorse AQGAMTKALELFRNDIAAKYtibetan-antelope AQGAMSKALELFRNDMAAQYhumpbackwhale AQAAMNKALELFRKDIAAKYminkewhale AQAAMNKALELFRKDIAAKYseiwhale AQAAMNKALELFRKDIAAKYspermwhale AQGAMNKALELFRKDIAAKYdolphin AQGAMNKALELFRKDIAAKYrabbit AQAAMSKALELFRNDIAAQYhuman AQGAMNKALELFRKDMASNYchimpanzee AQGAMNKALELFRKDMASNYgorilla AQGAMNKALELFRKDMASNYOrangutan AQGAMNKALELFRKDMASNYRhesusmonkey AQGAMNKALELFRNDMAAKYwoollymonkey AQGAMKKALELFRNDMAAKYaardvark AQGAMSKALELFRNDIAAKYhedgehog AQGAMSKALELFRNDIAAKYpig AQGAMSKALELFRNDMAAKYotter AQGAMKRALELFRNDIAAKYbadger AQGAMKKALELFRNDIAAKYpanda AQAAMRKALELFRNDIAAKYkangaroo AQAAMKKALELFRHDMAAKYplatypus AQAAMGKALELFRNDMAAKYauklet SQAAMKKALELFRNDMASKYCormorant SQAAMKKALELFRNDMASKYostrich SQAAMKKALELFRNDMASKYchicken SQAAMKKALELFRNDMASKYemperorpenguin AQEAMKKALELFRNDMASKYiguana SQAAMRKALEVFRNDMASKYLace_monitor SQEAMRKALELFRNDMASRYLoggerheadturtle SQAAMKKALELFRNDMASKYalligator SQAAMRKALELFRNDMASKYshark VQAAFSGAFKIICSDIEKEY . *: : . *: *The above phylogram was generated from the myoglobin sequences of 40 different vertebrate species from the classes Chondrichthyes, Actinopterygii, Reptilia, Mammalia and Aves. Amphibia are not represented on the gene tree because their myoglobin gene was secondarily lost during their evolution (Hoffmann et al 2011).Shark myoglobin seems to be the most divergent compared to species from other classes, which is a faithful representation of the evolutionary history of cartilaginous fishes. We can group together the reptile, bird and mammal species in the gene tree based on their myoglobin sequences, which again corresponds well with the evolution of these taxa: they belong to the phylogenetic clade of Tetrapoda (Meyer and Zardoya 2003).According to the most recent and accepted hypothesis, birds are part of the Sauropsida clade, together with reptiles (Meyer and Zardoya 2003). They are most closely related to the order Crocodilia, so on a phylogenetic tree, the bird species would be put close to the alligator. However, the myoglobin sequences from birds appear to be more related to mammals than to the reptiles. Testudines (like the loggerhead turtle) are the most ancient extant reptiles, so they would be closer to the root of the reptilian branch on the phylogenetic tree, followed by Lepidosauria (lizards, snakes and tuataras) and then Crocodilia (Meyer and Zardoya 2003). The turtle myoglobin, however, seems to be more similar to that of the alligator than to the myoglobin of the iguana or the lace monitor.Diving vertebrates have to be able to hold their breath for long periods, so their myoglobin must be very effective in storing oxygen (Wright and Davies 2015). Among the bird species in the above gene tree, the emperor penguins myoglobin seems to stand out from the rest of the bird species one for this could be that penguins spend prolonged periods under water. Among the mammals, Cetaceans form their own clade in the gene tree. Just like the penguins, the whales and dolphins need to have very effective myoglobin to serve as an oxygen store during periods of hypoxia, when they dive.ResourcesEdelman, M. and Mattoo, A.K. (2008) D1-protein dynamics in photosystem II: the lingering enigma. Photosynthesis Research. 98(1-3) pp. 609-620Ferreras, J.M., Ragucce, S., Citores, L., Iglesias, R., Pedone, P.V. and Di Maro, A. (2016) Insight into the phylogenetic relationship and structural features of vertebrate myoglobin family. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 93(A) pp. 1041-1050Hoffmann F.G., Opazo, J.C. and Storz J.F. (2011) Differential Loss and Retention of Cytoglobin, Myoglobin, and Globin-E during the Radiation of Vertebrates. Genome Biology and Evolution. 3(1) pp. 588-600Meyer, A. and Zardoya, R. (2003) Recent advances in the (molecular)phylogeny of vertebrates. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics. 34(1) pp. 311-338Ordway, G.A. and Garry, D.J. (2004) Myoglobin: an essential hemoprotein in striated muscle. Journal of Experimental Biology. 207(20) pp. 3441-3446Wright, T.J. and Davis, R.W. (2015) Myoglobin oxygen affinity in aquatic and terrestrial birds and mammals. Journal of Experimental Biology. 218(14) pp. 2180-2189
