A primary genetic map of chromosome 16 has been constructed by linkage analysis of 24 polymorphic loci, typed in 59 reference families. These loci form a continuous map that covers the whole chromosome and spans genetic distances of 187 cM in males and 226 cM in females. Most of the sex-specific recombination rate difference comes from a nontelomeric region that covers 10 cM in males and 74 cM in females. Both telomeric regions show the opposite trend, with a significant increase in the male recombination rate.