THE IDENTIFICATION OF Y-CHROMOSOME-LINKED MARKERS WITH RANDOM SEQUENCE OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PRIMERS

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique of random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) is extremely useful for developing DNA-based markers. We previously identified a linkage group of eight unmapped RAPD markers that distinguish C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice (Mammalian Genome 3: Woodward et al., 73-78, 1992). In this study, we report that all eight markers are Y Chromosome (Chr)-linked. One additional Y-linked RAPD was discovered serendipitously during the screening of a C3H/HeJ x (C3H/HeJ x SJL/J)F1 BC1 population. The segregation of all nine markers was analyzed with a panel of 14 independent inbred strains of male mice. The nine markers could be divided into three distinct groups: (1) D YByu2, D YByu5, D YByu6, and D YByu8 identify both the M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus type Y Chr; (2) D YByu1, D YByu3, D YByu4, and D YByu7 are specific for the M.m. musculus type; and (3) D YByu9 is specific for the M.m. domesticus type. The results clearly indicate that the RAPD technique can be used to identify Y Chr-linked, DNA-based markers in mammalian species.