Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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Sequencing the Mitochondrial Genome of the Giant Scops-Owl (Otus gurneyi) and Review of the Phylogeny of the Old World Otus

Undergraduate #18
Discipline: Biological Sciences
Subcategory: Genetics

Raven B. Reed - Texas Southern University
Co-Author(s): Amanda Nicole Jackson and Hector C. Miranda, Jr., Texas Southern University, Houston, TX


We are sequencing the complete mitochondrial genome of the Otus gurneyi to provide investigators multiple gene markers for evolutionary and population studies. Primers were designed using Primer3Plus and Geneious Pro 5.5 (Biomatters, New Zealand). PCR was carried out. Chromatographs were viewed in FinchTV, imported and assembled in Geneious Pro 5.5 using ClustalW. DNA reads were cross-referenced to chromatographs for verification. The final assembly was annotated, gene positions and structure were defined. About 22 sets of primers were designed based on Ninox novaeseelandiae, a closely related genus whose complete mitochondrial genome have been reported in Genbank. We were able to sequence about 17 of the 22 fragments. Part of the mitogenome sequenced was the cytochrome oxidase b (cytb) gene. To test whether Otus gurneyi is a miniature, or a giant form of its ancestor, we compared its cytb gene with that of 22 other cytb sequences available in Genbank. Result of our phylogenetic analysis supported the idea of gigantism rather than dwarfism.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): National Science Foundation (NSF) / Texas Southern University Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP).

Faculty Advisor: Hector Miranda,

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.