ABSTRACT
Microsatellites are scored by amplifying the tandem repeat using PCR primers complementary to the sequences flanking the repeat. PCR products are resolved on a separatory medium, typically a polyacrylamide gel. The products are visualized most often by labeling one of the PCR primers prior to amplification with either a radionuclide (32P or 33P) and scoring the gel via autoradiography (Fig. 2) or by employing a fluorescently tagged primer and resolving the fragments using an automated DNA sequencer/analyzer. Microsatellites are codominant data, meaning that both alleles present in heterozygotes can be scored and thus analyses are similar to those performed for allozymes.
