Rapid ribosomal RNA sequencing and the phylogenetic analysis of protists.

A newly described technique for rapidly obtaining the partial nucleotide sequence of ribosomal RNA is being applied to investigate phylogenetic relationships among living organisms. Alan Johnson and Peter Boverstock describe the importance of this method to parasitology in providing new information on the phylogenetic relationships of parasitic organisms previously placed in groups of convenience. The phylum Apicomplexo in particular, has been the object of much study using this technique, but the technology is likely to extend soon to the restructuring of the phylogenetic trees of many groups of parasites.