Ronald L. Phillips, Principal Investigator
Howard W. Rines, Co-Principal Investigator

Chromosomal Distribution of Maize Repetitive Sequences

This group uses microarray technology in conjunction with labeled deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from oat-maize addition (OMA) lines to perform chromosomal analysis of the organization and distribution of maize repetitive elements. Each OMA line contains an individual maize chromosome allowing for an analysis of its composition. The probes in this research were specifically designed to detect unique motifs of repetitive sequences or whole elements. This microarray technology is a fluorescence comparative assay using differently labeled genomic DNA from OMA lines hybridized to immobilized probes. Target sequences are quantified for their relative abundance per chromosome. In addition, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is used to show the physical distribution of the major elements along a maize chromosome. Microarray and FISH techniques together elucidate specific repetitive elements within a maize chromosome, clarify genomic organization, and can reinforce chromosome duplication models.