The Background Info:

Mitochondrial DNA, or mtDNA, is a circular genome found in the mitochondria of cells. It has a rapid rate of evolution and a low recombination rate, making it a great tool for phylogenetic research. mtDNA analyses can also be simpler than next-generation sequencing methods, which provides a great introduction to genetic analyses. 

The How:

UAF URSA student Isabelle Nicolier, and UAF BLaST student Logan Ito will analyze the control region of the mitochondrial genome of herring across our broad sampling range. 

The Why:

From this data, we will be able to initially analyze the population diversity of herring in the eastern Bering Sea, while being able to practice important genomic techniques.