Human variable number of tandem repeat probes as a source of polymorphic markers in experimental animals.

Human VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeat) markers are examined as a source of polymorphism for linkage studies in inbred strains of mice and rats. High frequencies of cross-hybridization are found under fingerprinting conditions that detect many distinct minisatellite loci in these species. Linkage studies suggest that minisatellite markers are widely distributed in the mouse genome, in contrast to humans where they are clustered, particularly in telomeric regions. Human VNTR probes can be used to screen in mouse genomic libraries to isolate mouse specific VNTR sequences. Some of these sequences reveal fingerprint patterns under stringent hybridization conditions.