New tools for the high throughput characterization of rat genomic DNA samples

Linkage studies and positional cloning projects for the identification of d isease related genes require the genetic characterization of large numbers of genomic DNA samples. The application of spotting robots enables the prod uction of high density filters representing several thousand DNA probes. To take full advantage of the potential of these filters we have established a new, hybridization based Interspersed Repetitive Sequence (IRS-)marker sy stem for the rat genome. This marker panel was shown to be useful for rapid genotyping of many multigenic crosses as well as high throughput character ization of large insert genomic libraries.