Analysis of malaria parasite phenotypes using experimental genetic crosses of Plasmodium falciparum

We review the principles of linkage analysis of experimental genetic crosses and their application to Plasmodium falciparum. Three experimental genetic crosses have been performed using the human malaria parasite P. falciparum. Linkage analysis of the progeny of these crosses has been used to identify parasite genes important in phenotypes such as drug resistance, parasite growth and virulence, and transmission to mosquitoes. The construction and analysis of genetic maps has been used to characterise recombination rates across the parasite genome and to identify hotspots of recombination. (C) 2012 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.