Colormapping: A non-mathematical procedure for genetic mapping

We describe a new procedure, called colormapping, a non-mathematical method for genetic mapping. Numerical scores representing the genotypes of the ma rkers are converted to colors and these are used to display the genotypes o f the markers for each individual in a segregating population. Color genoty pes are arranged in a matrix where each I ow corresponds to a market - orde red according to their position in the appropriate Linkage Group - and each column represents an individual in the mapping population. The picture is called colormap by which the genotypes of the chromosomal segments can be s hown for each individual in the segregating population. A colormap can be u sed for whole genome analysis which is profitable in genetic and bleeding e xperiments and is suitable for genetic mapping, too. The location of a new marker is found by recognizing similarities between the color pattern of th e individuals for the new marker and the ordered markers in the colormap. C olormapping can also be used to find linkages which cannot be determined un ambiguously by conventional mapping programs. Moreover, colormaps are extre mely powerful for troubleshooting by indicating inaccurate genotypes caused by errors of different origin. Colormap(ping) is generally applicable to g enetic mapping/analysis of any organisms.