The close link between products of mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear (N-mt) genes functioning in mitochondria is a basis of the so-called mito-nuclear compatibility species concept and species identification based on mtDNA barcoding. In this project we will use unprecedented genomic data on African small mammals (mainly murid rodents, but not only) to test the predictions derived from the co-evolution between mtDNA and N-mt genes. Specifically, we will analyse the type of selection working on genes involved in crucial processes in mitochondria (e.g. oxidative phosphorylation) and we will review the cases and circumstances of interspecific mtDNA introgression. In selected examples, we will study in more details the level of co-introgression of N-mt genes. Finally, we plan to produce new genomic data from selected taxa and analyse the evolution of NUMTs (= nuclear copies of mtDNA fragments). All these steps should significantly improve the reliability of using mtDNA barcodes in simple species identification.
