Molecular phylogeny of the Chironomus genus deduced from nucleotide sequences of two nuclear genes, ssp160 and the Globin 2b gene

Two genes were employed to study phylogenetic relatedness of the Chironomus species: the protein-coding, salivary gland-specific ssp160 gene, and the globin 2b (gb2b) gene. By using PCR, it was demonstrated that all the 38 Chironomus species analyzed possess the gb2b gene, while only 13 have the ssp160 gene. Partial nucleotide sequences of the genes of 22 species were determined. The data obtained were employed to construct phylogenetic trees which appeared to be topologically similar and revealed five groups of phylogenetically closely related species. Combining the data obtained in the studies of nuclear and mitochondrial genes, a molecular-data-based scenario could be suggested for the Chironomus genus evolution.