Rapid single nucleotide polymorphism mapping in <it>C. elegans</it>

• Main Authors: Hullett Patrick, Harrach Tracey, Hammarlund Marc, Davis M Wayne, Olsen Shawn, Jorgensen Erik M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2005-09-01
• Series: BMC Genomics
• Online Access: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/6/118

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In <it>C. elegans</it>, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can function as silent genetic markers, with applications ranging from classical two- and three-factor mapping to measuring recombination across whole chromosomes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we describe a set of 48 primer pairs that flank SNPs evenly spaced across the <it>C. elegans </it>genome and that work under identical PCR conditions. Each SNP in this set alters a <it>Dra</it>I site, enabling rapid and parallel scoring. We describe a procedure using these reagents to quickly and reliably map mutations. We show that these techniques correctly map a known gene, <it>dpy-5</it>. We then use these techniques to map mutations in an uncharacterized strain, and show that its behavioral phenotype can be simultaneously mapped to three loci.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Together, the reagents and methods described represent a significant advance in the accurate, rapid and inexpensive mapping of genes in <it>C. elegans</it>.</p>