Statistical recovering of incomplete genotypic information of DNA molecular markers

Genetic information provided by a dominant marker about the genotype is partial or incomplete, and a missing marker provides no information at all. In the present study, based on some basic genetic and statistical principles, a general algorithm is proposed to systematically recover the genotypic information of all dominant and missing markers on a genome for individuals from an F\-2 population. The recovered information can then increase the efficiency and precision in mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) and marker assisted selection (MAS). The derived method can be easily extended to other populations consisting of all 3 genotypes on each marker locus, such as populations derived from an F\-2 by selfing or random mating.