Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Markers

Due to advances in molecular biology techniques, large numbers of highly informative DNA markers have been developed for the identification of genetic polymorphism. In the last decade, the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been one of the most commonly used molecular techniques to develop DNA markers. RAPD markers are amplification products of anonymous DNA sequences using single, short and arbitrary oligonucleotide primers, and thus do not require prior knowledge of a DNA sequence. Low expense, efficiency in developinga large number of DNA markers in a short time and requirement for less sophisticated equipment has made the RAPD technique valuable although reproducibility of the RAPD profile is still the centre of debate.