EXPRESSED SEQUENCE TAG (EST)

A sequence tagged site (STS) derived from cDNA (complementary DNA). An STS is a short (200 to 500 base pairs) DNA sequence that has a single occurrence in the human genome and whose location and base sequence are known. Detectable by polymerase chain reaction, STSs are useful for localizing and orienting the mapping and sequence data reported from many different laboratories and serve as landmarks on the developing physical map of the human genome.