Abstract: Microsatellite marker has many advantages such as a great quantity, extensive dispersion around the genome, high polyomorphism, Mendelian codominant inheritance, rapid and convenient detection. In this paper，it were briefly introduced principle and structure, the application of microsatellite technique was reviewed in the study of animal, for instance, construction of genetic linkage map, molecular marker assisted breeding, evaluation of genetic diversity, genetic monitoring and so on were summarized.

Key words: Microsatellite, Molecular markers, Laboratory animal, Application