Tell me about genome scans using microsatellites and linkage?
A genome scan is a series of genome-wide microsatellite genotypes across a set of families. In the first instance enough markers should be typed to cover marker-maker linkage in a step-wise manner across the entire genome. Historically, we have done this by typing an established set of 400 markers that we purchase from Applied Biosystems (LMS2.5 10cM) although a denser set of markers is also available (LMS2.5 5cM). For the majority of genome screens these markers will show marker-maker linkage, however there may be loci where random recombination has restricted linkage and further markers are required. Following this genetic linkage analysis of the phenotype-genotype can begin and LOD scores established.
