A Rat Linkage Map Based on BC x LEW Intercross

Bonné, Anita C. M.; den Bieman, M. G. C. W.; Gillissen, G. F.; van Zutphen, L. F. M.; van Lith, H. A.

doi:10.14712/fb2002048030120

Fol. Biol. 2002, 48, 120-123

https://doi.org/10.14712/fb2002048030120

A Rat Linkage Map Based on BC x LEW Intercross

Anita C. M. Bonné, M. G. C. W. den Bieman, G. F. Gillissen, L. F. M. van Zutphen, H. A. van Lith

Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Received February 2002
Accepted March 2002

A genetic linkage map consisting of 258 polymorphic loci has been constructed on the basis of an F₂ intercross between the BC/CpbU and LEW/OlaHsd inbred rat strains. When compared to previously published maps a discrepancy was found for rat chromosome 7. The map spans a sex-averaged genetic length of 1790 cM and has an average marker spacing of 7.7 cM. It was estimated that this genetic map is linked to about 90% of the DNA in the rat genome. Because LEW/OlaHsd and BC/CpbU strains differ for dietary cholesterol susceptibility and hepatic copper content, the map is considered to be a valuable tool for studying the genetic background of these complex traits.