Current Status of Comparative Mapping in Livestock

Comparative maps, representing chromosomal locations of homologous genes in different species, are useful sources of information for identifying candidate disease genes and genes determining complex traits. They facilitate gene mapping and linkage prediction in other species, and provide information on genome organization and evolution. Here, the current gene mapping and comparative mapping status of the major livestock species are presented. Two techniques were widely used in comparative mapping: FISH (Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization) and PCR-based mapping using somatic cell hybrid (SCH) or radiation hybrid (RH) panels. New techniques, using, for example, ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) or CASTS (Comparatively Anchored Sequence Tagged Sites), also have been developed as useful tools for analyzing comparative genome organization in livestock species, further enabling accurate transfer of valuable information from one species to another. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2003. Vol 16, No. 10 : 1411-1420)