An integrated linkage-radiation hybrid map of the canine genome

Abstract

Purebred dogs are a unique resource for dissecting the molecular basis of simple and complex genetic diseases and traits. As a result of strong selection for physical and behavioral characteristics among the 300 established breeds, modern dogs are characterized by high levels of interbreed variation, complemented by significant intrabreed homogeneity. A high-resolution map of the canine genome is necessary to exploit the mapping power of this unusual resource. We describe here the integration of an expanded canine radiation hybrid map, comprised of 600 markers, with the latest linkage map of 341 markers, to generate a map of 724 markers-the densest map of the canine genome described to date. Through the inclusion of 217 markers on both the linkage and RH maps, the 77 RH groups are reduced to 44 syntenic groups, thus providing comprehensive coverage of most of the canine genome.

Finding cardiovascular disease genes in the dog

“…The sequence assembly validated much of what was already hypothesized from comparative genome map studies. The genome is approximately 2.4 billion bases and is comprised of approximately 250 conserved segments when compared to the human genome 16,17,21,[65][66][67] . The assembled sequence is estimated to cover 98% of the dog genome with the majority of genes containing no sequence gaps.…”

“…Recent studies have brought advances in understanding the genetics of breed development 15 and the availability of ever higher resolution maps [16][17][18][19][20][21] . These have led to the mapping of disease loci for a variety of diseases including metabolic disorders 22,23 , blindness [24][25][26][27][28] , cancer 29,30 neurologic disorders 31,32 , hip dysplasia 33 epilepsy 34 , as well as several morphologic traits 35,36 .…”

DNA analysis of a putative dog clone

“…In all cases, the allele frequencies were computed from a sample of 11 AKC-registered Afghan hounds plus the donor. According to genetic maps of the canine chromosomes, the 14 mapped markers were unlinked to one another, so each microsatellite was treated as an independent locus 8,9 .…”

Le chien, un modèle pour la génétique des mammifères

“…C'est ainsi que nous avons construit une collection d'hybrides cellulaires [30] et avons isolé et caractérisé plusieurs centaines de marqueurs canins [31][32][33]. Ce panel RH constitué de 118 lignées indépendantes résultant de la fusion aléatoire de fibroblastes canins irradiés à 5 000 rads et de cellules de hamster porteuses d'une mutation dans le gène de la thymidine kinase a permis la construction de cartes de plus en plus riches en marqueurs polymorphes (microsatellites) ou en gènes [34][35][36][37]. Ce panel RH, distribué à la communauté internationale s'intéressant à la génétique canine, sert actuellement de référence pour la cartographie de ce génome ainsi que pour la localisation de gènes candidats ou impliqués dans des anomalies génétiques spécifiques de races.…”