Short Interspersed Repetitive Sequences as a Phylogenetic Tool

The review is dedicated to one of the most common classes of repetitive elements in eukaryotic genomes: short interspersed elements. Their structure, origin, and functioning in the genome are discussed. The variation and abundance of these neutral genomic markers make them a convenient and reliable tool for phylogenetic analysis. The main methods of such analysis are outlined, and the potential and limitations of this approach are illustrated by examples.