Use of population isolates for mapping complex traits

Geneticists have repeatedly turned to population isolates for mapping and c loning Mendelian disease genes. Population' isolates possess many advantage s in this regard. Foremost among these is the tendency for affected individ uals to share ancestral haplotypes derived from a handful of founders. Thes e haplotype signatures have guided scientists in the fine mapping of scores of rare disease genes. The past successes with Mendelian disorders using p opulation isolates have prompted unprecedented interest among medical resea rchers in both the public and private sectors. Despite the obvious genetic and environmental complications, geneticists have targeted several populati on isolates for mapping genes for complex diseases.