Development and mapping of microsatellite markers derived from chicken chromosome-specific libraries

Department of Veterinary & Animal Science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA.

Chromosome-specific painting probes and libraries were developed for chicken Macrochromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 4 by chromosome microisolation and microcloning. Fluorescent in situ hybridization results using the painting probes on normal chicken metaphase chromosomes indicated the purity and specificity of each probe. Chromosome-specific libraries for chicken Macrochromosomes 1, 2, 3, and 4 were prepared in a phage vector. Fifty-two additional unique microsatellite markers of the (AC)n type were developed from these chromosome-specific libraries. These markers were mapped on the East Lansing reference population to increase the marker density on the four macrochromosomes. Results of the current study suggest that development of markers from chromosome-specific libraries is very useful for constructing high-density linkage maps for chicken macrochromosomes.