Evolutionary conservation of a microsatellite in the Wilms tumour (WT) gene: mapping in sheep and cattle.

A microsatellite in the WT (Wilms tumour) gene is shown to be evolutionarily conserved in a range of mammals. The microsatellite was monomorphic in pig and two alleles have been found in goat. In cattle, a one-base size polymorphism has been discovered outside the microsatellite. WT was genetically mapped to bovine chromosome 15 and to sheep chromosome 15 by synteny mapping. Conservation of chromosome segments of HSA11 and BTA15 is discussed.