In silico identification and mapping of microsatellite markers on sus scrofa chromosome 4.

Marker density of a QTL region on pig chromosome 4 was increased. New microsatellites were identified by in silico mining of BAC-end and genomic shotgun sequences. Among 8,784 BAC-end sequences predicted within the region, 148 microsatellites were identified. In addition, 27,450 CA/TG repeats were identified within the genomic shotgun sequences, of which 157 were most likely located on SSC4q. A selection of 61 new microsatellites was mapped, together with previously mapped markers. The results showed that the human-pig comparative map in combination with BAC-end and genomic sequence resources provides an excellent source for a highly efficient and targeted development of markers.