Abstract Genetic analysis of polygenic traits in rats and mice has been very useful for finding the approximate chromosomal locations of the genes causing quantitative phenotypic variation, so-called quantitative trait loci (QTL). Further localization of the causative genes and their ultimate identification has, however, proven to be slow and frustrating. A major technique for gene identification in such models utilizes series of congenic strains with progressively smaller chromosomal segments introgressed from one inbred strain into another inbred strain. Under the assumption that a single causative locus underlies a QTL, nested series of congenic strains were earlier suggested as an appropriate configuration for the congenic strains. It is now known that most QTL are compound, that is, the QTL signal is caused by clusters of loci where alleles exert positive, negative, and interactive effects on the trait in a given strain comparison. It is argued that in this situation an initial series of nonoverlapping contiguous congenic strains over a relatively large chromosomal region will lead to a better appreciation of the underlying complexity of the QTL and therefore more rapid gene identification. Examples from the literature where this strategy would be helpful, as well as a case where it would be potentially counterproductive, are given. quantitative trait loci polygenic inheritance Dahl rats hypertension Copyright © 2012 the American Physiological Society « Previous | Next Article » Table of Contents This Article Published online before print November 2011 , doi: 10.​1152/​physiolgenomics.​00136.​2011 Physiol. Genomics January 2012 vol. 44 no. 2 117-120 » Abstract Free Full Text Free to you Full Text (PDF) Free to you All Versions of this Article: physiolgenomics.00136.2011v1 44/2/117 most recent Classifications Perspective Services Email this article to a friend Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Download to citation manager Citing Articles Load citing article information Citing articles via Web of Science Google Scholar Articles by Rapp, J. P. Articles by Joe, B. PubMed PubMed citation Articles by Rapp, J. P. Articles by Joe, B. Related Content Load related web page information Current Issue January 2012, 44 (2) Alert me to new issues of Physiol. Genomics About the Journal Information for Authors Submit a Manuscript Ethical Policies AuthorChoice PubMed Central Policy Reprints and Permissions Advertising Press Copyright © 2012 the American Physiological Society Print ISSN: 1094-8341 Online ISSN: 1531-2267 var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www."); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-2924550-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview();

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