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The use of microsatellites for genetic analysis of natural populations — a critical review

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Molecular Approaches to Ecology and Evolution

Summary

Microsatellites, tandemly repeated units of 1 to 5 bp, are distributed throughout eukaryotic genomes. Length variation within microsatellites, caused by DNA slippage, can be revealed by polymerase chain reaction and used for DNA profiling. The ease of typing of microsatellites and their prevalence has promoted the application of microsatellite analysis to many research areas including molecular ecology and population genetics. This chapter provides background to microsatellite analysis and highlights examples in which microsatellite analysis has successfully extended the repertoire of molecular methods to understand dynamics and evolutionary forces acting on natural populations. Finally, the limitations of microsatellite analysis, which have emerged with increasing use, are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Tierzucht und Genetik, Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien, Josef-Baumann Gasse 1, A-1210, Wien, Austria

    Christian Schlötterer

  2. Institute of Cell, Animal and Population Biology, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

    Josephine Pemberton

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  1. Christian Schlötterer
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  2. Josephine Pemberton
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, New York, NY, 10024-5192, USA

    Rob DeSalle

  2. Zoologisches Institut, J.W. Goethe-Universität, Siesmayerstr. 70, D-60054, Frankfurt, Germany

    Bernd Schierwater

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Schlötterer, C., Pemberton, J. (1998). The use of microsatellites for genetic analysis of natural populations — a critical review. In: DeSalle, R., Schierwater, B. (eds) Molecular Approaches to Ecology and Evolution. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8948-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-8948-3_4

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-9840-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-8948-3

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