Table 3. Comparison of minisatellites and microsatellites.
| Minisatellites | Microsatellites | |
|---|---|---|
| Number within the human genome | Approximately 1500 | Approximately 500000 |
| Locations within our genome | Mostly near the ends of chromosomes (telomeres) | Scattered throughout the length of all chromosomes |
| Unit repeat length1 | Approximately 10 to >100 bp | (12) 2 to approximately 6 bp |
| Number of repeat units within the array | Usually from approximately 60 to >1000 | Usually ∼6 to ∼14 |
| Used in | DNA fingerprinting | DNA profiling; genetic linkage studies |
| Also known as | Variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) | VNTR, short tandem repeats (STR), simple sequence repeats (SSR) |
1
Note that repeats with unit lengths of 7–9 bp may be classified as micro- or minisatellites depending on their biological behaviour.
2
Many (but not all) authors include mononucleotide repeats in the category of microsatellites.