Construction of Linkage Maps with RAPD Markers

Abstract

The idea of using recombinant individuals to measure linkage distance along chromosomes comes from the research of Sturtevant, in 1913, on the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Since that time, the Drosophila map has become very detailed, consisting of about 4000 mapped genes (Kafatos et al. 1991). Molecular markers, such as restriction fragment length polymorphisms, have enabled researchers to construct detailed linkage maps. This, in turn, makes it possible to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that affect characters showing polygenic inheritance and to clone genes by map-based cloning techniques. Genomic maps have been used for mendelian analysis of QTLs that affect important agronomic traits of crop plants (reviewed by Tanksley 1993). QTL analysis also has been useful for mapping and cloning genes in human genetic research (reviewed by Lander and Schork 1994), for identifying loci that affect disease transmission by mosquitoes (Severson et al. 1994, 1995) and for identifying loci that influence the behavior of mammals (e.g., Carlier et al. 1990; Crabbe et al. 1994) and insects (Hunt et al. 1995).