Cotton (Gossypium spp.) is the most important natural fiber in the world, and its seeds are also used as a food source. Breeding cotton for traits of interest, such as production and processing of fibers, will ensure that this natural product is as competitive as renewable synthetic fibers derived from petroleum. Thus, the mapping of the cotton genome for traits of interest may be the basis for its subsequent use in breeding programs. This work consists of a literature review, with the aim of bringing together works from different research groups working with the mapping of the cotton genome with molecular markers.