FLUORESCENCE-BASED RESOURCE FOR SEMIAUTOMATED GENOMIC ANALYSES USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

To facilitate the practical application of highly efficient semiautoma ted methods for general application in genomic analyses, we have devel oped a fluorescence-based microsatellite marker resource. Ninety highl y polymorphic microsatellite markers were combined to provide a rapid, accurate, and highly efficient initial genome-wide screening system. These markers are spaced on average every 33 cM, with a mean heterozyg osity of 81% (range 65-94%), covering 22 autosomes and the X and Y chr omosomes. Less than 10% of the genome lies beyond 20 cM of the nearest marker. Since this genomic analysis system is fully compatible with a utomated fragment analyzers using simultaneous four-color fluorescence -based detection systems, the 5 groups of 18 markers can be detected c oncurrently. This multiplex detection provides a throughput of 1944 ge notypes daily per instrument. This system will be highly beneficial in a number of clinical and research applications including linkage, can cer genetics, forensics, and cytogenetics. (C) 1994 Academic Press, In c.