Major features, M utation M echanis M and develop Ment of M icrosatellites as genetic M arkers

Tenev A, A., n. Tomlekov A and G. GoujGoulov A, 2014. major features, mutation mechanism and development of microsatellites as genetic markers. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 20: 949-956 Recent advances in molecular technologies provide various approaches for D nA polymorphism studies. There are several marker systems used in animal genetic studies, such as SSRs (microsatellites), AF lPs, vn TRs, RAPD, RF lP, mtD nA and Y-chromosome specific markers. Until recently, the microsatellite DNA marker has been the most widely used, due to its easy use by simple PCR and to the high degree of polymorphism and informativeness. Furthermore, microsatellite loci have gained widespread use in genome mapping, phylogenetic and conservation genetics due to their abundance in eukaryotic organisms. Microsatellites have much more information than allozymes and mtDNA. This paper reviews the major features, mutation mechanism, development, advantages and limitations of microsatellites as genetic markers.