NOTE: The first APG cytomolecular mapping paper has been accepted for publication in Genome (see Publications)! 

We are currently involved in exploring relationships in pine between chromosome structure, DNA sequence, recombination, and genome evolution using cytomolecular mapping.  In cytomolecular mapping single-copy and/or repetitive molecular markers are localized on chromosome spreads via fluorescence in situ hybridization. The chromosomal positions of the markers are then characterized with respect to each other and to cytological features such as centromeres, telomeres, heterochromatin, euchromatin, and chromomeres.  Because the DNA markers used as probes in cytomolecular mapping are often part of molecular maps, cytomolecular mapping can be used to directly superimpose molecular maps onto their corresponding chromosomes.  In species where genome sequencing is nearly complete or where extensive physical (BAC contig) maps have been constructed, cytomolecular mapping presumably can be used to position a complete (or nearly complete) chromosomal DNA molecule directly onto its corresponding chromosome (i.e., cytophysical mapping).  In such a case, each cytomolecular marker serves as a point at which the DNA molecule is “anchored” onto the framework of the chromosome (see Figure 1 below).  

*This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DBI-0421717.  Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.  MGEL © 2006. Web design by Daniel G. Peterson.  Last updated 18-Apr-2007.