IDENTIFICATION OF HYPERVARIABLE SINGLE-LOCUS MINISATELLITE DNA PROBESIN THE BLUE TIT PARUS-CAERULEUS

We report the isolation of a set of hypervariable minisatellite DNA se quences from a blue tit Parus caeruleus genomic DNA library. In our st rategy, we cloned a minisatellite-rich DNA fraction into a charomid ve ctor. The resulting cosmid library was screened with the two minisatel lite DNA probes 33.6 and 33.15 for recombinants containing a minisatel lite DNA insert. A total of 233 positive clones were isolated. Of 37 c lones that have been analysed, nine gave polymorphic signals and can b e used as single locus probes (SLPs). Four of the SLPs were investigat ed in more detail. The number of alleles, the heterozygosity and the m utation rate were estimated. Linkage analysis revealed that two of the se loci were linked. The SLPs are of value to studies of the mating sy stem and reproductive success in the blue tit, and may also be useful in population genetic studies.