[16] Evolutionary analyses of repetitive DNA sequences

This chapter describes the evolutionary analyses of repetitive DNA sequences. The study of repetitive DNA sequences is refined by advances in cloning, sequencing, and oligonucleotide synthesis. Whereas the original studies of repeated DNA evolution analyzes whole families of repeated DNA sequences using genomic hybridization techniques, it is now possible to use cloning and DNA sequence analysis to define subfamilies of repeated DNA sequences. These subfamilies may then be characterized rapidly utilizing other approaches, such as specific oligonucleotide probes and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is difficult to improve on direct DNA sequence comparisons for evolution studies of the repeated DNA sequences. The only drawback is that these studies are relatively labor intensive, limiting the experimental sample to a much smaller one than can be studied using hybridization procedures. The chapter highlights the special considerations for repetitive DNA evolution.