Some commonly used types of genetic markers are:
* RFLP (or Restriction fragment length polymorphism)
* SSLP (or Simple sequence length polymorphism)
* AFLP (or Amplified fragment length polymorphism)
* RAPD (or Random amplification of polymorphic DNA)
* VNTR (or Variable number tandem repeat)
* SSCP (or Single-strand conformation polymorphism)
*   Microsatellite polymorphism, (or Simple sequence repeat)
* SNP (or Single nucleotide polymorphism)
* STR (or Short tandem repeat)
* SFP (or Single feature polymorphism)
* DArT (or Diversity Arrays Technology)
* RAD markers (or Restriction site associated DNA markers)
*  (using Sequence-tagged sites)
Molecular genetic markers can be divided into two classes: a) biochemical markers which detect variation at the gene product level such as changes in proteins and amino acids and b) molecular markers which detect variation at the DNA level such as nucleotide changes: deletion, duplication, inversion and/or insertion. Markers can exhibit two modes of inheritance, i.e. dominant/recessive or co-dominant. If the genetic pattern of homo-zygotes can be distinguished from that of hetero-zygotes, then a marker is said to be co-dominant. Generally co-dominant markers are more informative than the dominant markers.