What are the advantages of microsatellites?

Microsatellites are tandem repeats of short DNA segments that are found at specific genomic locations in most species. 

Advantages of Microsatellites:

• Higher abundance in genomes compared to other DNA markers, such as minisatellites
• Evenly distributed in the genome, unlike minisatellites which tend to cluster in chromosome ends
• Demonstrates locus specificity in contrast to multilocus markers such as RAPDs, AFLPs or minisatellites 
• Codominance, enabling differentiation between heterozygotes and homozygotes, unlike dominant markers.
• Genotyping via PCR allows analysis of minute, ancient, or highly degraded DNA 
• Highly polymorphic, typically exhibiting more than 2 alleles per locus within a population