More microsatellite markers

Sequencing of the Anolis genome holds great promise for unlocking the genetic basis of anole phenotypic variation – such as dewlap coloration and limb length differences – and it also makes for a nifty way to discover new molecular markers, such as microsatellites.  Wordley et al. report in a recent article on mining A. carolinensis expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for repeats and then blasting the EST-derived sequences against the genome to obtain the genomic sequence and its location on assembled chromosomes.  From these sequences, they designed primers, tested them out in A. carolinensis, and, importantly, attempted to amplify them in multiple, phylogenetically diverse species.  They identified 8-25 new variable markers for apletophallus, carolinensis, distichus, porcatus, and sagrei, which can be added to the existing resources designed for carolinensis, cristatellus, distichus, luciae, roquet, oculatus, and sagrei, which also work for some related species.  Happy genotyping!