We have demonstrated previously that noncoding sequences of genes are a robust source of polymorphisms between mouse species when tested using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, and that these polymorphisms are useful for genetic mapping. In this report we demonstrate that presumptive 3'-untranslated region sequence obtained from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) can be analyzed in a similar fashion, and we have used this approach to map 262 loci using an interspecific backcross. These results demonstrate SSCP analysis of genes or ESTs is a simple and efficient means for the genetic localization of transcribed sequences, and is furthermore an approach that is applicable to any system for which there is sufficient sequence polymorphism.