Structure and evolution of the Phasianidae mitochondrial DNA control region

The mitochondrial DNA control region is an area of the mitochondrial genome which is non-coding DNA. To infer the structural and evolutionary characteristics of Phasianidae mitochondrial DNA control region, the entire control region sequences of 34 species were analyzed. The length of the control region sequences ranged from 1144bp (Phasianus colchicus) to 1555bp (Coturnix japonica) and can be separated into three domains. The average genetic distances among the species within the genera varied from 1.96% (Chrysolophus) to 12.05% (Coturnix). The average genetic distances showed significantly negative correlation with ts/tv. In most genera (except Coturnix), domain I is the most variable among the three domains. However, the first 150 nucleotides apparently evolved at unusually low rates. Four conserved sequence boxes in the domain II of Phasianidae sequences were identified. The alignment of the Phasianidae four boxes and CSB-1 sequences showed considerable sequence variation.