RAPD Assay: A Novel Technique for Genetic Diagnostics

The analysis of
DNA
-based polymorphisms is integral to the construction of molecular genetic maps. Currently, the method of choice is the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay. The RFLP method only allows the detection of DNA sequence polymorphisms by Southern blot hybridization and is, in general, a time-consuming and labor-intensive method. Recently, a new DNA polymorphism assay termed RAPD for random amplified polymorphic DNA (
1
,
2
), has been developed that allows the detection of DNA sequence polymorphisms using single short primers of an arbitrary nucleotide sequence in a DNA amplification assay. Normally, primers of ten nucleotides in length are used. Since polymorphisms are simply detected as DNA segments that amplify from one parent but not the other, and they are inherited through classical Mendelian genetics, they can be used to construct genetic maps in an assortment of species.