The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has several unique characteristics that make it the model system of choice for molecular genetic studies of genes involved in eukaryotic flagella, chloroplasts, cell-cell interactions, and a number of biochemical pathways. We will develop a molecular map of the Chlamydomonas genome to complement the extensive genetic map that currently exists. Restriction fragment length polymorphism that distinguish the DNA from two interfertile strains will be used to follow the segregation of molecular markers in genetic crosses. Molecular markers will be mapped with respect to phenotypic markers on each of the nineteen linkage groups. Sets of linked molecular markers will be ordered on each linkage group. The ends of linkage groups will be mapped using molecular markers associated with telomere. Precise correlation between the molecular map and the genetic map will be sought by carrying out a "chromosome walk" in one region of the genome. This project will greatly facilitate molecular and genetic analysis of Chlamydomonas nuclear genes currently underway in many laboratories including our own. The single-celled green alga Chlamydomonas has become an important model organism for the study of a number of problems of fundamental biological interest. This is a proposal to develop a detailed and comprehensive map of the DNA and genes of this organism. Such a map will be a valuable resource to workers in the field, and will greatly facilitate their work.
