Genetic Phylogeny among Three Species Red Seabream, Black Seabream and Rock Bream Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

The Perciformes include approximately 40% of all bony fishes and are the largest order of vertebrates. This order includes some of the most economically relevant marine fishes, particularly the red seabream, black seabream and rock bream. A 409 bp fragment of the cytochrome b (cyt b) gene and 403 bp and 518 bp fragments of ribosomal RNA (12S and 16S rRNA, respectively) were sequenced from five populations of natural and cultured red seabreams, natural black seabream, and natural and cultured rock breams. The mitochondrial DNA sequences were utilized for the genetic identification and population structural analyses of these three species. Phylogenetic relationships of intra- and inter-species were elucidated using three types of molecular genetic markers from three species of the order Perciformes in Korea. We noted no significant differences in the intra-specific variation of the cyt b and rRNA genes in each population however, inter-specific divergences were greater than intra-specific variation. Inter-specific variation was induced more by transition than transversion type in the cyt b and rRNA genes. The cyt b gene and rRNA genes make it possible to determine the inter-species divergence. The rRNA genes have more conserved sequences than the cyt b gene. Therefore, these genes are expected to prove useful among species belonging to the different genera or families.