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May 26, 2005 10:14 am, 4363079B_CH_GettingStarted.fm
Chapter 1 Getting Started
About Supported AFLP Reagent Chemistries
2GeneMapper® Software Version 4.0 AFLP® System Analysis Getting Started Guide
About Supported AFLP Reagent Chemistries
About the
AFLP System
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP®) is a mapping
technique used to visualize polymorphisms in genomic DNA. The
AFLP system combines the well-known restriction fragment length
polymorphism (RFLP) technique and the polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) to generate a large number of amplified restriction fragments
from prepared, genomic DNA. When separated by electrophoresis,
the samples yield unique band patterns that, when visualized by
southern blot or fluorescence-based fragment analysis, can be used
for high-resolution genotyping, polymorphism detection, or
cladistics.‡
Applications Supported by the Workflows in This Guide
The flexibility and robustness of the AFLP system provides a broad
number of applications for the technology. This guide contains a
general analysis workflow that can be used to support two of the
most common: sample/strain identification and backcross analysis
for mapping. The procedures focus on sample identification analysis,
however many of them are applicable to the alternative applications.
Compatible
AFLP Assays
The GeneMapper Software can analyze samples that have been:
• Prepared using an AFLP chemistry that incorporates the
Applied Biosystems fluorescent dye-labeling and detection
technology
• Run on a compatible Applied Biosystems electrophoresis
instrument
Applied Biosystems has adapted the AFLP technique for use with its
fluorescent dye-labeling and detection technology. In the modified
system, a 5′ dye-labeled primer has been substituted for one of the
selective primers used in the final amplification step. The following
section describes the Applied Biosystems chemistry.
‡ Savelkoul, P. H. M., Aarts, H. J. M., de Haas, J., Dijkshoorn, L., Duim, B.,
Otsen, M., Rademaker, J. L. W., Schouls, L., and Lenstra, J. A., J Clin
Microbio, 1999, 37(10), 3083–3091.