Molecular evolution and variability in mitochondrial DNA in 10 species of passeriforme

Phylogenetic analysis. The mitochondrial gene tree constructed in this study suggests that the Alaudidae are a single branch separate from the other two families, and the Fringgillidae are more related to the Corvidae than the Alaudidae. It has been reported that mitochondrial DNA evolves at a rate of 2% per million years. Using this evolutionary rate, our results indicate that these taxa diverged 4 million years ago, which is identical to what is suggested by the fossil record. This suggests that mitochondrial DNA may provide an appropriate molecular clock for research on the evolutionary history of birds.