Area of Research: DNA Barcoding

Thanks to Marlowe Hood of Agence France Press (AFP) for an extensive article about Why should mitochondria define species? by Mark Stoeckle and David Thaler. Editing of Mr. Hood’s article resulted in a couple of inaccuracies.

While the opening sentence suggests that a handheld barcoding device already exists, such a convenient device remains a few years away, although the process of obtaining barcodes is now standardized, routine, and quick.

The fourth paragraph inquires about diversity increasing with time.  Diversity does increase with time.  What the paper shows is that while time matters, the population size achieved over the interval of time does not matter.

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

 

 

The article Why should mitochondria define species?
Stoeckle M.Y., Thaler D.S.
is now fully open access:
DOI: 10.14673/HE2018121037

Coverage in Tekniikan Maailma, Finland: (Widespread genetic research revealed: Human genetic diversity is low – Two people do not differ by more than two percent) https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/laaja-perimatutkimus-paljasti-ihmisen-geneettinen-monimuotoisuus-on-vahaista-kaksi-ihmista-ei-eroa-toisistaan-enempaa-kuin-kaksi-pulua/

and Nachrichten Welt, Germany: Alles andere als besonders: Die winzigen DNA-Unterschiede der Menschheit sind “Durchschnitt” im Tierreich https://nach-welt.com/technik/alles-andere-als-besonders-die-winzigen-dna-unterschiede-der-menschheit-sind-durchschnitt-im-tierreich/

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

 

 

Mark Stoeckle and David Thaler publish “Why should mitochondria define species?” open-access (DOI: 10.14673/HE2018121037) in the journal Human Evolution following a study of mitochondrial DNA from about 5 million specimens covering about 100,000 animal species. The paper argues that humans are far from special: humanity’s tiny mt DNA differences are “average” in the animal kingdom. Moreover, as with humans, over 90% of animal species today likely originated 100,000–200,000 years ago.

RealClearScience runs a good article about Stoeckle-Thaler, “What Can ‘DNA Barcodes’ Tell Us About Evolution and Ourselves?”

The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

Other coverage:

The Independent, UK Genetic differences between people across the world are no greater than differences between pigeons https://uk.news.yahoo.com/genetic-differences-between-people-across-184451249.html?guccounter=2

Europa Press, newswire, Spain La diferencia genética entre humanos, en el promedio de las especies https://www.europapress.es/ciencia/laboratorio/noticia-diferencia-genetica-humanos-promedio-especies-20180521172546.html

Agencia EFE, Spain Demostrado, no eres nada excepcional (Demonstrated, you’re nothing exceptional https://sevilla.abc.es/ciencia/abci-demostrado-no-eres-nada-excepcional-201805211531_noticia.html

RIA Novosti (newswire), Russia: Scientists have not found differences in the genetic diversity of humans and animals) https://ria.ru/science/20180521/1521018801.html?referrer_block=index_archive_1

We post to BioRXiv, the pre-print server for biology:

Why Should Mitochondria Define Species?

Mark Y. Stoeckle, David S. Thaler

Comments on the paper are most welcome.The study is grounded in and strongly supports Darwinian evolution, including the understanding all life has evolved from a common biological origin over several billion years.

The study follows mainstream views of human evolution. We do not propose there was a single “Adam” or “Eve”. We do not propose any catastrophic events.

 

Mark Stoeckle and David Thaler’s (former RU colleague, now at University of Basel) paper on what DNA barcodes reveal about human evolution and vice versa, entitled “Bridging two scholarly islands enriches both: COI DNA barcodes for species identification versus human mitochondrial variation for the study of migrations and pathologies” is published in open access Ecology and Evolution.

Mark Stoeckle is interviewed about fish substitution and his daughter Kate’s high school “Sushi-gate” project  in an engaging new book “Real Food, Fake Food” by Larry Olmsted. The author also quotes Mark about what he describes as the “poster child” for fish substitution, namely, red snapper, in a Wall Street Journal article.

Mark worked with Lyubov Soboleva, a rising high school senior in the RU Summer Student Research Program (SSRP), on expanding the eDNA reference library for NYC/NJ fish species. Using specimens contributed by Keith Dunton, Monmouth University, as well as Melissa Cohen, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and others purchased in local bait shops and fish stores, she generated 60 new DNA sequences from 18 species which have already been uploaded to GenBank. Nice work Lyubov!

In May 2005, under auspices of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL), David Schindel organized a meeting in London of a Database Working Group that addressed access to biodiversity literature.  Their discussions led directly to establishment of the Biodiversity Heritage Library, a consortium of libraries of natural history museums, under the leadership of Thomas Garnett (Smithsonian, Washington DC) and Graham Higley (Museum of Natural History, London) and to a request for funds, which the Richard Lounsbery Foundation supported 25 April 2006.  Jesse Ausubel encouraged the development at each stage.  April 11th kicks-off the Biodiversity Heritage Library’s 10th anniversary celebration, “BHL at 10: Celebrating Ten Years of Inspiring Discovery through free access to biodiversity knowledge.” BHL now offers about 50 million pages.  Congratulations to all, and enjoy.