Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

11:13
Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I
Published on: April 10, 2018
From linkage to genes : positional cloning
1Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey, UK.
Methods in Molecular Medicine
|March 5, 2011
Summary
Linkage analysis helps pinpoint disease gene locations in families. This chapter reviews molecular methods for cloning these genes using linkage data.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Bioinformatics
Background:
- Genetic linkage analysis is a powerful tool for mapping disease genes.
- Identifying disease susceptibility genes is crucial for understanding genetic disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of molecular methods for gene cloning.
- To explain how linkage data aids in identifying disease susceptibility genes.
Main Methods:
- Review of established molecular cloning techniques.
- Explanation of linkage analysis principles and applications.
- Discussion of bioinformatics tools used in gene mapping.
Main Results:
- Detailed description of various molecular cloning strategies.
- Illustrative examples of gene identification through linkage analysis.
- Overview of computational approaches for analyzing genetic data.
Conclusions:
- Molecular methods are essential for isolating genes identified by linkage analysis.
- Successful gene cloning relies on accurate linkage data and appropriate methodologies.
- This chapter serves as a foundational resource for researchers in human genetics.
Related Concept Videos
Dihybrid Crosses
Overview
Chromatin Position Affects Gene Expression
Chromatin is the massive complex of DNA and proteins packaged inside the nucleus. The complexity of chromatin folding and how it is packaged inside the nucleus greatly influences access to genetic information. Generally, the nucleus' periphery is considered transcriptionally repressive, while the cell's interior is considered a transcriptionally active area.
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the timing and level of...
Topologically Associated Domains (TADs)
The 3-dimensional positioning of chromatin in the nucleus influences the timing and level of...
Transposons
Transposons, or "jumping genes," are small mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that range from 700 to 40,000 base pairs in length. They are found in all organisms and can move within the same chromosome or transfer to different chromosomes. In some cases, transposons can also jump between different host DNA molecules, such as plasmids or viruses, contributing to genetic variability.Barbara McClintock first discovered these mobile genetic elements in the 1940s while studying maize genetics, and she...
In-vitro Mutagenesis
To learn more about the function of a gene, researchers can observe what happens when the gene is inactivated or “knocked out,” by creating genetically engineered knockout animals. Knockout mice have been particularly useful as models for human diseases such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and diabetes.
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
Position-effect Variegation
In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.

