How to improve the localisation of a QTL ?

Abstract

Many methods are offered to finely map loci implicated in the variability of quantitative traits (Quantitative trait loci or QTL). The diversityof these methods can be explained notably by the differences that exist between species, for example by generation intervals, productioncost, or the variable costs for phenotyping traits. Here, we offer a review of the methods that exist for the fine mapping of these loci, but first we describe the conditions for the reduction of the localisation interval of these QTL. The key parameter that allows reducingthe interval is the number of useful recombinations. This is why the fine mapping methods we describe are separated into two groups:those that require reproduction of individuals or additional generations to increase the number of recombinations and those that use statisticalmodels to infer the recombinations having occurred during previous generations.