Review

Expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): Emerging molecular marker tools for improving agronomic traits in plant biotechnology

Kwadwo Owusu Ayeh

Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Postboks 5003, 1432, ÅS-NORWAY. E-mail: kwadwo.owusu.ayeh@umb.no. Tel: + 47-64965606.

Accepted 16 January, 2008

Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) are providing in depth knowledge in plant biology, breeding and biotechnology. The emergence of many novel molecular marker techniques are changing and accelerating the process of producing mutations in plant molecular biology research. This coupled with the availability of cheap sequencing techniques and access to a complete genome sequence has been shown to complement traditional marker –based approaches. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs) have provided an important source for the study of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in plants. SNP markers have become popular, partly because of their high density within the genome and also their ease with which they are characterized. This review also focuses on some methods used in genotyping SNPs.

Key words: Molecular markers, expressed sequence tags (EST), single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).