Minimum Multicolored Subgraph Problem in Multiplex PCR Primer Set Selection and Population Haplotyping

In this paper we consider the minimum weight multicolored subgraph problem (MWMCSP), which is a common generalization of minimum cost multiplex PCR primer set selection and maximum likelihood population haplotyping. In this problem one is given an undirected graph G with non-negative vertex weights and a color function that assigns to each edge one or more of n given colors, and the goal is to find a minimum weight set of vertices inducing edges of all n colors. We obtain improved approximation algorithms and hardness results for MWMCSP and its variant in which the goal is to find a minimum number of vertices inducing edges of at least k colors for a given integer k ≤ n.