Molecular Evolution and Mitochondrial Genomics in Animals

Dear Colleagues,

Molecular evolution studies utilizing nuclear and mitochondrial genomes have fundamentally transformed our understanding of animal phylogeny over the past several decades. Despite these advances, substantial conceptual, methodological, and empirical challenges persist. The demand for molecular evolution and mitochondrial genomics in animals is rising. Of particular importance is the comparative characterization of mitochondrial genome architecture across animal taxonomic orders, which provides critical insights into genome stability, evolutionary constraint, and adaptive divergence. This Special Issue highlights state-of-the-art research that applies comparative and evolutionary genomics approaches to decipher the evolutionary trajectories of animals and the functional significance of their mitochondrial genomes. We welcome high-quality original research articles and authoritative, synthesis-oriented review articles addressing (i) integrative molecular evolutionary analyses in animals grounded in nuclear and mitochondrial genomic datasets; (ii) phylogenomic reconstructions of animals informed by mitochondrial genome sequences; and (iii) dynamic patterns of mitochondrial gene expression in animals in response to different environmental stressors.

Prof. Dr. Jiayong Zhang
Guest Editor

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