Inter-simple sequence repeat markers are generated from single-primer PCR reactions where the primer is designed from di- or trinucleotide repeat motifs with a 5'- or 3'-anchoring sequence of one to three nucleotides. The amplified regions represent the nucleotide sequence between two SSR priming sites oriented on opposite DNA strands. The premise is that SSR regions are scattered evenly throughout the genome and the chances of amplifying between two adjacent regions within the limits of Taq Polymerase processivity is high enough that a large number of polymorphic bands should be generated. ISSR markers are inherited in a dominant or codominant Mendelian fashion. They are interpreted as dominant markers similar to RAPD data. The absence of a band is interpreted as primer divergence or loss of a locus through the deletion of the SSR site or chromosomal rearrangement. The utility of ISSR markers has recently been demonstrated for use in studies of natural populations for a range of applications from population-level to interspecific studies. The objective of this workshop is to introduce researchers into the use of ISSR markers for studies of natural populations. An overview of the method will be given with an emphasis on data interpretation and analysis.

Key words: DNA techniques, ISSR markers, molecular biology, workshop