Mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) of multicellular animals (Metazoa) with bilateral symmetry (Bilateria) are compact and usually carry 13 protein-coding genes for subunits of three respiratory complexes and ATP synthase. However， occasionally reported exceptions to this typical mtDNA organization prompted speculation that， as in protists and plants， some bilaterian mitogenomes may continue to lose their canonical genes， or may even acquire new genes. To shed more light on this phenomenon， a PCR-based screen was conducted to assess fast-evolving mtDNAs of apocritan Hymenoptera (Arthropoda， Insecta) for genomic rearrangements that might be associated with the modification of mitochondrial gene content.
Mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) of multicellular animals (Metazoa) with bilateral symmetry (Bilateria) are compact and usually carry 13 protein-coding genes for subunits of three respiratory complexes and ATP synthase. However， occasionally reported exceptions to this typical mtDNA organization prompted speculation that， as in protists and plants， some bilaterian mitogenomes may continue to lose their canonical genes， or may even acquire new genes. To shed more light on this phenomenon， a PCR-based screen was conducted to assess fast-evolving mtDNAs of apocritan Hymenoptera (Arthropoda， Insecta) for genomic rearrangements that might be associated with the modification of mitochondrial gene content.
