CHROMOSOME-SPECIFIC MICROSATELLITE SETS FOR FLUORESCENCE-BASED, SEMIAUTOMATED GENOME MAPPING

To facilitate large-scale genetic mapping of the human genome, we have developed chromosome-specific sets of microsatellite marker loci suit able for use with a fluorescence-based automated DNA fragment analyser . We present 254 dinucleotide repeat marker loci (80% from the Genetho n genetic linkage map) arranged into 39 sets, covering all 22 autosome s and the X chromosome. The average distance between adjacent markers is 13 centiMorgans, and less than 4% of the genome lies more than 20 c M from the nearest marker. Each set of microsatellites consists of up to nine marker loci, with allele size ranges that do not overlap. We s elected marker loci on the basis of their reliability in the polymeras e chain reaction, polymorphism content, map position and the accuracy with which alleles can be scored automatically by the Genotyper(TM) pr ogram.