Oligonucleotide Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (oaCGH) based characterization of genetic deficiencies as an aid to gene mapping in Caenorhabditis elegans.
BACKGROUND
A collection of genetic deficiencies covering over 70% of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome exists, however the application of these valuable biological tools has been limited due to the incomplete correlation between their genetic and physical characterization.


RESULTS
We have applied oligonucleotide array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (oaCGH) to the high resolution, molecular characterization of several genetic deficiency and duplication strains in a 5 Mb region of Chromosome III. We incorporate this data into a physical deficiency map which is subsequently used to direct the positional cloning of essential genes within the region. From this analysis we are able to quickly determine the molecular identity of several previously unidentified mutations.


CONCLUSIONS
We have applied accurate, high resolution molecular analysis to the characterization of genetic mapping tools in Caenorhabditis elegans. Consequently we have generated a valuable physical mapping resource, which we have demonstrated can aid in the rapid molecular identification of mutations of interest.
Jones
Martin R
MR
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby BC V35 1S6 Canada. mrjones@sfu.ca
Maydan
Jason S
JS
Flibotte
Stephane
S
Moerman
Donald G
DG
Baillie
David L
DL
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D002875:Chromosomes; D017353:Gene Deletion; D018628:Gene Dosage; D020440:Gene Duplication; D049751:Genome, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D020161:Physical Chromosome Mapping; D014178:Translocation, Genetic