January 2013

Source: ISB News report

by Ian Bancroft

Genetic studies often exploit the capability to segregate mapping populations derived from bi-parental crosses. However, results can be obtained more quickly and with greater genetic resolution by exploiting the historical recombination between loci in genetic diversity panels. The identification of molecular markers in Linkage Disequilibrium with loci controlling traits is a key tool in clinical genetics studies and forms the basis for Genome-Wide Association Scans (GWAS), often termed Association Genetics. GWAS offers crop science the opportunity to rapidly identify robust molecular markers tightly linked to trait-controlling loci for use in marker-assisted breeding. It also has the potential to identify causative mutations, if the markers used are in coding regions of genes.

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Website: http://www.vt.edu

Published: January 9, 2013