Microsatellites Flashcards
1
Q
characteristics
A
- high variability
- once position in gene discovered: low target DNA amount needed
- regions with a high mutation rate
2
Q
what are they good for?
A
- detect recent events (because of the high mutation rate)
- to study population connectivity (Analyzing microsatellite markers helps assess genetic diversity and identify patterns of gene flow between populations)
3
Q
what are they not good for?
A
- to go back in the past because of homoplasy
4
Q
homoplasy
A
- two or more species share a similar trait or character state not because of common ancestry (homology) but due to convergent evolution, parallel evolution, or evolutionary reversal
- homoplasy is the presence of a shared trait that has evolved independently in different lineages
5
Q
how can we observe microsats in an electropherogram?
A
- conducting a PCR on a DNA-sequence
- microsats produce very high peaks
- here: a single locus, 2 high peaks, 2 alleles, 2 microsats
–> the graph is correct, when two high peaks are separated (stutters may occur)
6
Q
how can we see if the individual is hetero- or homozygote at specific locus?
A
- 1 peak means homozygote for that allele
- 2 (or more?) heterozygote
7
Q
what if error occurs and I assume homozygosity?
A
- I can interpret it as an inbreed individual
8
Q
what are microsats useful for?
A
- paternity tests
