A locus for radiation-induced gastroschisis on mouse Chromosome 7

Gastroschisis (abdominal wall defects) occurs with a high frequency in the mouse inbred strain HLG compared with C57BL/6J mice. The risk of gastroschi sis increases significantly after exposure to irradiation with X-rays durin g preimplantation development and follows a recessive mode of inheritance f or the HLG susceptibility alleles. We have used a backcross strategy and ge nome-wide microsatellite typing to chromosomally map this trait. A suggesti ve linkage for a locus responsible for radiation-induced gastroschisis (Rig s1) was found in a region of mouse Chromosome 7.