Addition of MT, D16S10, D16S4, and D16S91 to the linkage map within 16q12.1-q22.1

The CEPH consortium linkage map of human chromosome 16

A Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) consortium map of human chromosome 16 has been constructed. The map contains 158 loci defined by 191 different probe/restriction enzyme combinations or primer pairs. The marker genotypes, contributed by 9 collaborating laboratories, originated from the CEPH families DNA. A total of 60 loci, with an average heterozygosity of 68%, have been placed on the framework genetic map. The genetic map contains 7 genes. The length of the sex-averaged map is 165 cM, with a mean genetic distance between loci of 2.8 cM; the median distance between markers is 2.0 cM. The male map length is 136 cM, and the female map length is 197 cM. The map covers virtually the entire chromosome, from D16S85, within 170 to 430 kb of the 16p telomere, to D16S303 at 16qter. The markers included in the linkage map have been physically mapped on a partial human chromosome 16 somatic cell hybrid panel, thus anchoring the genetic map to the cytogenetic-based physical map.

Integrating maps of chromosome 16

The recently published, detailed cytogenetic-based physical map of chromosome 16 has the highest resolution of any autosomal cytogenetic map thus far constructed. The genetic map has been integrated with the cytogenetic map to facilitate the regional localization of disease genes by linkage. Disease genes for tuberous sclerosis, familial Mediterranean fever, Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome and Morquio A syndrome have now been assigned to chromosome 16. The search for the adult polycystic kidney disease gene has recently been narrowed to the analysis of candidate loci on chromosome 16, and localization of the gene determining juvenile Batten disease has been further refined by disequilibrium mapping.

CEPH maps

There are CEPH genetic maps on each homologous human chromosome pair. Genotypes for these maps have been generated in 88 laboratories that receive DNA from a reference panel of large nuclear pedigrees/families supplied by the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain. These maps serve as useful tools for the localization of both disease genes and other genes of interest.