A genetic map ofCottus gobio(Pisces, Teleostei) based on microsatellites can be linked to the physical map ofTetraodon nigroviridis

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Abstract
To initiate QTL studies in the nonmodel fishCottus gobiowe constructed a genetic map based on 171 microsatellite markers. The mapping panel consisted ofF1intercrosses between two divergentCottuslineages from the River Rhine System. Basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) searches with the flanking sequences of the microsatellite markers yielded a significant (e < 10−5) hit with theTetraodon nigroviridisgenomic sequence for 45% of theCottusloci. Remarkably, most of these hits were due to short highly conserved noncoding stretches. These have an average length of 40 bp and are on average 92% conserved. Comparison of the map locations between the two genomes revealed extensive conserved synteny, suggesting that theTetraodongenomic sequence will serve as an excellent genomic reference for at least the Acanthopterygii, which include evolutionarily interesting fish groups such as guppies (Poecilia), cichlids (Tilapia) orXiphophorus(Platy). The apparent high density of short conserved noncoding stretches in these fish genomes will highly facilitate the identification of genes that have been identified in QTL mapping strategies of evolutionary relevant traits.