A comprehensive genetic map of the human genome based on 5,264 microsatellites

THE great increase in successful linkage studies in a number of higher eukaryotes during recent years has essentially resulted from major improvements in reference genetic linkage maps 1–6 , which at present consist of short tandem repeat polymorphisms of simple sequences or microsatellites 7,8 . We report here the last version of the Généthon human linkage map 6 . This map consists of 5,264 short tandem (AC/TG)n repeat polymorphisms with a mean heterozygosity of 70%. The map spans a sex-averaged genetic distance of 3,699 cM and comprises 2,335 positions, of which 2,032 could be ordered with an odds ratio of at least 1,000:1 against alternative orders. The average interval size is 1.6 cM; 59% of the map is covered by intervals of 2 cM at most and 1% remains in intervals above 10 cM.