Mitochondria and plastids are generally uniparentally inherited and have a conserved gene content over hundreds of millions of years, which makes them potentially useful phylogenetic markers. Organelle single gene-based trees have long been the basis for elucidating interspecies relationships that inform taxonomy. More recently, high-throughput genome sequencing has enabled the construction of massive organelle genome databases from diverse eukaryotes, and these have been used to infer species relationships in deep evolutionary time. Here, we test the idea that despite their expected utility, conflicting phylogenetic signal may exist in mitochondrial and plastid genomes from the anciently diverged coralline red algae (Rhodophyta). We generated complete organelle genome data from five coralline red algae (Lithothamnion sp., Neogoniolithon spectabile, Renouxia sp., Rhodogorgon sp., and Synarthrophyton chejuensis) for comparative analysis with existing organelle genome data from two other species (Calliarthron tuberculosum and Sporolithon durum). We find strong evidence for incongruent phylogenetic signal from both organelle genomes that may be explained by incomplete lineage sorting that has maintained anciently derived gene copies or other molecular evolutionary processes such as hybridization or gene flow during the evolutionary history of coralline red algae.

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Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized many areas of biological research due to the sharp reduction in costs that has led to the generation of massive amounts of sequence information. Analysis of large genome data sets is however still a challenging task because it often requires significant computer resources and knowledge of bioinformatics. Here, we provide a guide for an uninitiated who wish to analyze high-throughput NGS data. We focus specifically on the analysis of organelle genome and metagenome data and describe the current bioinformatic pipelines suited for this purpose.

BackgroundFor personalized skin care, noninvasive quantitative methods to evaluate facial skin characteristics are important. Janus‐III is one of the most widely used imaging analysis devices in the skin care industry in Korea. Janus‐III generates values for a range of skin characteristics. Due to the convenience of obtaining results for a variety of skin characteristics in a single measurement, the use of Janus‐III in cosmetic stores and research institutes has been recently increasing. However, the consistency of skin measurements of Janus‐III has not been elucidated yet.Materials and MethodsIn this study, we repeated skin measurements three times for 70 different subjects and compared each numerical value in order to assess the consistency of the Janus‐III. For this purpose, we compared between‐sample distances and within‐sample distances.ResultsWe found important patterns for future analyses in terms of consistency. First, the average values of skin measurement categories were more reliable than individual part values of facial segments. Second, center part values such as forehead and nose were more reliable than side part values such as left and right part segments.ConclusionIf researchers who use Janus‐III for studies of facial characteristics analyze average and center part values first, they can obtain relatively reliable patterns of facial skin characteristics.

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