Plant and Animal Genome XII, San Diego, CA. Abstract P671.
Comparative mapping information can be effectively utilized for the identification of candidate genes within chromosomal regions containing ETL. The successful use of such information relies upon the construction of a detailed genome map determining segments of conserved synteny and gene order, as well as evolutionary breakpoints. The recent availability of the complete human genome sequence and thousands of homologous porcine sequences provides a tremendous resource for the construction of such a map in the pig. Using the INRA-Minnesota porcine Radiation Hybrid (IMpRH) panel, we have constructed a radiation hybrid map of the porcine genome composed of nearly 2,350 markers, including ~350 ESTs and ~2,000 porcine BAC-end sequences. The average spacing between comparative anchor loci is approximately 1.5 Mb based on human genome sequence. This radiation hybrid map will provide a framework for anchoring contigs generated through BAC fingerprinting efforts and will allow for the determination of a minimal tiling path and assembly of the first sequence-ready map of the porcine genome. Additionally, the map will greatly facilitate the positional cloning of porcine genes influencing traits of economic importance.