Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks for a DNA molecular marker that satisfies three specific criteria:
1. It must be specific to a single locus.
2. it must be multi-allelic (having many different versions/lengths in a population).
3. It must be co-dominant (allowing the differentiation between homozygotes and heterozygotes).
Detailed Explanation:
• SSR (Simple Sequence Repeats):
Also known as microsatellites, these consist of short DNA motifs (1-6 bp) repeated multiple times.
Single Locus: Primers are designed to flank a specific repeat region.
Multi-allelic: The number of repeats varies significantly between individuals due to slippage during replication, resulting in many possible alleles (lengths) at one locus.
Co-dominant: Since the marker is PCR-based and targets a specific site, a heterozygote will show two distinct bands (one from each homologous chromosome), while a homozygote shows one.
• Comparison with other markers:
RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA): Multi-locus, but dominant (cannot distinguish between homozygous dominant and heterozygotes).
AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism): Multi-locus and typically dominant.
SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism): Single locus and co-dominant, but typically bi-allelic (only two possible bases at that position), not multi-allelic like SSRs.
Step 3: Final Answer:
SSR markers are single-locus, multi-allelic, and co-dominant.