Constructing dense genetic linkage maps

Abstract This paper describes a novel combination of techniques for the construction of dense genetic linkage maps. The construction of such maps is hampered by the occurrence of even small proportions of typing errors. Simulated annealing is used to obtain the best map according to the optimality criterion: the likelihood or the total number of recombination events. Spatial sampling of markers is used to obtain a framework map. The construction of a framework map is essential if the steps used for simulated annealing are required to be simple. For missing-data imputation the Gibbs sampler is used. Map construction using simulated annealing and missing-data imputation are used in an iterative way. In order to obtain some measure of precision of the genetic linkage map obtained, the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm is used to obtain posterior intervals for the positions of markers. The process of map construction is embedded in a framework of pre-mapping and post-mapping diagnostics. The techniques described are illustrated using a practical application.