Cross-species transfer of nuclear microsatellite markers: potential and limitations.
Molecular ecologists increasingly require 'universal' genetic markers that can easily be transferred between species. The distribution of cross-species transferability of nuclear microsatellite loci is highly uneven across taxa, being greater in animals and highly variable in flowering plants. The potential for successful cross-species transfer appears highest in species with long generation times, mixed or outcrossing breeding systems, and where genome size in the target species is small compared to the source. We discuss the implications of these findings and close with an outlook on potential alternative sources of cross-species transferable markers.
Barbará
Thelma
T
Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3DS, UK.
Palma-Silva
Clarisse
C
Paggi
Gecele M
GM
Bered
Fernanda
F
Fay
Michael F
MF
Lexer
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D005819:Genetic Markers; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics
D005819:Genetic Markers