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A simple method for the calculation of microsatellite genotype distances irrespective of ploidy level
Author(s) -
BRUVO RUŽICA,
MICHIELS NICOLAAS K.,
D’SOUZA THOMAS G.,
SCHULENBURG HINRICH
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2004.02209.x
Subject(s) - biology , intraspecific competition , microsatellite , ploidy , planarian , evolutionary biology , polyploid , genotype , flatworm , genetics , similarity (geometry) , zoology , allele , regeneration (biology) , gene , artificial intelligence , computer science , image (mathematics)
Microsatellites are powerful molecular markers, used commonly to estimate intraspecific genetic distances. With the exception of band sharing similarity index, available distance measures were developed specifically for diploid organisms and are unsuited for comparisons of polyploids. Here, we present a simple method for calculation of microsatellite genotype distances, which takes into account mutation processes and permits comparison of individuals with different ploidy levels. This method should provide a valuable tool for intraspecific analyses of polyploid organisms, which are widespread among plants and some animal taxa. An illustration is given using data from the planarian flatworm Schmidtea polychroa (Platyhelminthes).