Simultaneous genetic mapping of multiple human minisatellite sequences using DNA fingerprinting.

We have used several DNA probes which simultaneously recognize multiple loci to follow the segregation of a large number of minisatellite loci through two large reference pedigrees. The segregation data were analyzed for linkage to previously characterized marker loci using RFLP mapping data for these pedigrees from a previous study and from the Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain data bank. In this way we have mapped 31 separate minisatellite alleles of a total of 146 studied. The results of these analyses suggest that the distribution of minisatellites in the human genome is skewed toward telomeres and is highly clustered in character. A group of at least five separate minisatellites was found at 7 qter, and smaller clusters are present in several other regions. We detected a smaller than expected number of linkages, perhaps because of the clustering of minisatellite loci. The 7qter minisatellite cluster is in a region of excess male meiotic recombination, and in this respect is similar to minisatellite clusters at 16pter and in the X-Y pseudoautosomal region.