A mapping panel is simply a collection (usually 96) of samplings of genomic DNA each containing fragments totalling ~0.7x the haploid equivalent mass of DNA. This means that any single-copy marker will be present in around 50% of the aliquots (Poisson distribution).

The important elements of a panel are:-

1.) It must be possible to amplify the whole panel (or a pre-defined portion of it) since each marker needs to be tested on the same collection of fragments.

2.) Each aliquot of the panel should contain roughly the same mass of DNA, as described above.

3.) The average fragment length should be appropriate for the distance which the map is to cover. If the fragment size is small, there will be no linkage over longer distances, but linked markers should have an accurate positioning. Conversely, if the fragment size is large, markers will be closely linked but at the expense of accuracy of the marker order.