Electronic PCR: bridging the gap between genome mapping and genome sequencing

A crucial event in the history of the Human Genome Project was the decision to use sequence-tagged sites (STSs) as common landmarks for genomic mapping. Following several years of constructing STS-based maps of ever-increasing detail, the emphasis has recently shifted towards large-scale genomic sequencing. A computational procedure called 'electronic PCR' allows STS landmarks to be revealed as data emerge from the sequencing pipeline, thereby bridging the gap between mapping and sequencing activities.