A simple method for the calculation of microsatellite genotype distances irrespective of ploidy level

• Published in: Molecular ecology Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 2101 - 2106
• Main Authors: BRUVO, RUŽICA, MICHIELS, NICOLAAS K., D'SOUZA, THOMAS G., SCHULENBURG, HINRICH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-07-2004
• Subjects: Animals; DNA Primers; Evolution, Molecular; Freshwater; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Italy; Microsatellite Repeats - genetics; microsatellites; Models, Genetic; Mutation - genetics; parentage; Planarians - genetics; Platyhelminthes; Ploidies; polyploids; population; relatedness; Schmidtea; Schmidtea polychroa; Italy
• ISSN: 0962-1083; 1365-294X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2004.02209.x

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).