Evolutionary relationship of edible mollusks based on phylogenetic analysis using 16s RRNA and COX1 gene sequences

All of the edible mollusk organisms selected for this study exhibited evolutionary relationships which were identified by phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences (20 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rRNA) sequences and 50 mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene (COX1) sequences). Two separate phylogenetic trees based from the COX1 and 16S rRNA; and phylogenetic tree from the concatenation of the sequences of the taxa with both COX1 and 16S rRNA sequences revealed the distant and shared common ancestors of the selected mollusks. These two genes are widely used markers in molecular biology, particularly for phylogenetic and species identification. Phylogenetic analysis elucidates the evolutionary relationships among a diverse assemblage of molluscan taxa, spanning key families from cephalopods, gastropods, and bivalves. Using robust statistical support—reflected by high bootstrap values—the tree distinctly separates major clades including cephalopod groups.The inclusion of selected outgroup species anchors the tree, thereby establishing a clear evolutionary trajectory and enabling inferences about ancestral states and morphologies. This phylogenetic framework not only advances our understanding of molluscan evolution and taxonomy but also provides a crucial foundation for future studies in comparative morphology, ecology, and conservation biology across these economically and ecologically significant organisms.