VCMap: Overview

Comparative mapping is a strategy based on sequence conservation between species that allows sequence-related information derived from one species to be mapped to the corresponding (syntenic) region in another. This is particularly applicable to model organism research as it allows the data generated in genetically tractable organisms such as the Rat to be related to the human genome and to the genetic basis of human disease.

The Virtual Comparative Map (VCMap) tool was developed to explore these syntenic relationships between Rat, Mouse and Human. Massive sequence comparisons between ESTs and cDNAs derived from the three organisms were combined with Raditation Hybrid map locations to define the regions of synteny. The comparative maps were then extended by the prediction of locations for markers unmapped in a species based on their known locations in the syntenic region of another species (Virtual Mapping).

• VCMap Help - Explanations for the maps and reports available using VCMap including diagrams explaining the virtual mapping concepts.
• View the Maps - Select from a list of maps
• Search the VCMap Build - Search the build dataset for particular markers or generate bin reports for chromosomal regions

Map data for Rat, Mouse and Human was obtained from the following sources:

• Rat: RH map v2.1, Rat Genome Database, http://rgd.mcw.edu
• Mouse: Mouse RH map Release 9, Whitehead Institute; http://www-genome.wi.mit.edu/mouse_rh/
• Human: GB4 RH maps (GeneMap99, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genemap99/)

UniGene data was obtained from NCBI, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/UniGene/