The last ten years or so have seen a major, concerted international research efforts to produce genome maps for the dog. One of the major driving forces behind the research was to provide the tools required to track down and identify mutant gene alleles that are responsible for canine inherited disease. Early phases of map development involved the cloning and characterisation of 1000s of canine microsatellite sequences and the production of microsatellite-specific primer pairs that could be used to amplify specific microsatellite loci. Microsatellites were then mapped to their individual chromosomal loci using a combination of meiotic linkage analysis in standard canine reference families and radiation hybrid mapping. Molecular cytogenetics has also been used to gain a clearer picture of the canine karyotype and how it relates to the human karyotype.