comparative gene mapping

The comparison of map locations of genes between species. The results of these comparisons indicate substantial conservation of blocks of genes and even large segments of chromosomes between species. Great use can be made of this conservation of map position. For example, in the case of mammals, it means that if a gene has been mapped in one or both of the intensely-mapped species (humans and mice), then the likely location of that gene in other mammals can be predicted with considerable confidence. Conversely, if a mapped anonymous DNA marker has an effect on a quantitative trait (this being indicative of the marker being linked to a quantitative trait locus (QTL)) in, say, cattle, then knowledge of the comparative map between cattle and humans can identify genes in the homologous region of the human genome that could correspond to the QTL. Such genes are called comparative positional candidate genes (q.v.).