A COMPREHENSIVE MICROSATELLITE LINKAGE MAP OF THE CHICKEN GENOME

A comprehensive linkage map of the chicken genome has been developed b y segregation analysis of 430 microsatellite markers within a cross be tween two extreme broiler lines. The population used to construct the linkage map consists of 10 families with a total of 458 F2 individuals , The number of informative meioses per marker varied from 100 to 900 with an average of 400. The markers were placed into 27 autosomal link age groups and a Z-chromosome-specific linkage group, In addition, 6 m arkers were unlinked, 1 of which was Z chromosome specific, The covera ge within linkage groups is 3062 cM. Although, as in other species, th e genetic map of the heterogametic sex (female) is shorter than the ge netic map of the homogametic sex (male), the overall difference in len gth is small (1.15%), Forty-five of the markers represent identified g enes or ESTs. Database homology searches with the anonymous markers re sulted in the identification of a further 9 genes, bringing the total number of genes/ESTs on the current map to 54. The mapping of these ge nes led to the identification of two new regions of conserved synteny between human and chicken and confirmed other previously identified re gions of conserved synteny between human and chicken. The linkage map has 210 markers in common with the linkage maps based on the East Lans ing and Compton reference populations, and most of the corresponding l inkage groups in the different maps can be readily aligned. (C) 1998 A cademic Press.