On the robustness of phylogenetic analyses: Can flatworm 18S rDNA hide between 18S rDNAs of a single mollusc genus?

Abstract

Finding that a long contaminating sequence (18S rDNA, 1968 nt) was not recognized by multiple types of seemingly robust phylogenetic analyses and was aligned within the completely foreign DNA, forming not even a single clade within the analysed organisms.

Keywords

• Flatworm
• Methodical artifacts
• Molecular clock
• Opisthobranchia
• Phylogeny
• Pleurobranchomorpha