Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #82563
Title: A COMPREHENSIVE MICROSATELLITE LINKAGE MAP OF THE CHICKEN GENOME

Author
item GROENEN, M A M - WAGENINGEN AG. UNIVERSITY
item CROOIJMANS, R P M A - WAGENINGEN AG. UNIVERSITY
item VEENENDAAL, A - WAGENINGEN AG. UNIVERSITY
item Cheng, Hans
item SIWEK, M - WAGENINGEN AG. UNIVERSITY
item VAN DER POEL, J J - WAGENINGEN AG. UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The age of modern genetics offers the possibility to identify all the important genes in an organism. With this knowledge, breeding will be more efficient as the desirable genes can be directly selected. Also when transgenics is practical, defined recombinant organisms can be engineered using the discovered genes. The key to this ability is a molecular genetic cmap. In this paper, a map comprised of only high utility markers is described for the chicken. The 421 genetic markers cover almost the entire chicken genome. This map along with the other two published chicken genetic maps gives a much higher coverage and density of genetic markers, thus, enhancing the ability to identify economically important genes in the chicken. Ultimately, the poultry breeders and the consumers will benefit from the development of this important tool.

Technical Abstract: A comprehensive linkage map of the chicken genome has been developed by segregation analysis of 421 microsatellite markers within a cross between 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 permarker varied from 100 to 900 with an average of 400. The markers were placed into 26 autosomal linkage groups and a Z- chromosome specific linkage group. In addition 9 markers were unlinked, one of which was Z chromosome specific. The coverage within linkage groups is 2948 cM. Although, as in other species, the genetic map of the heterogametic sex (female) is shorter than the genetic map of the homogametic sex (male), the overall difference in length is small (1.1%). The linkage map has 209 markers in common with the linkage maps based on the East Lansing and Compton reference populations, and most of the corresponding linkage groups in the different maps can be readily aligned.