Localization of the Usher syndrome type ID gene (Ush1D) to chromosome 10

The Usher syndromes (USH) are a group of autosomal recessive diseases characterized by progressive pigmentary retinopathy and sensorineural hearing loss. Five USH genes have been mapped and at least one additional gene is known to exist. By homozygosity mapping in a consanguineous family, a sixth USH gene has been localized. Clinical findings in the four affected children are consistent with established diagnostic criteria for Ush1. Linkage to known USH loci was excluded, and using two genomic DNA pools, one from the affected children and the other from the parents, 161 polymorphic markers evenly spaced across the autosomal human genome were screened. The location of the Ush1D gene was defined by the only region showing homozygosity by descent in the affected siblings, a 15 cM interval on chromosome 10q bounded by D10S529 and D10S573.