Genetic and physical maps of the stargazer locus on mouse chromosome 15.

The stargazer mouse mutation causes absence seizures that are more prolonged and frequent than any other petit mal mouse model. Stargazer mice also have an ataxic gait and vestibular problems, including a distinctive head-tossing motion. From the genotyping of a large intersubspecific cross, a panel of 53 recombinant DNAs between D15Mit29 and D15Mit2 has been assembled, and a fine genetic map of the stargazer region has been constructed on mouse Chromosome 15. The stargazer locus has been mapped between D15Mit30 and the parvalbumin gene, and six candidate genes have been excluded by genetic linkage analysis. A physical contig of YACs, BACs, and P1s stretching 1.1 Mb from D15Mit30 to the somatostatin receptor 3 gene is reported, and the DNA interval including the stargazer locus has been narrowed to 150 kb.