We have characterized 117 cDNAs isolated by direct cDNA selection using pools of human chromosome 12p cosmids. Sequencing revealed that 41 clones did overlap with other cDNAs. Of the remaining 76 cDNA sequences, 11 matched previously identified human chromosome 12p genes and 3 matched previously determined cDNA sequences, including the retinoblastoma binding protein 2 (RBBP2), the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor KIP1, and an expressed sequence tag. For each of the 76 cDNAs specific selection by a genomic cosmid clone was confirmed. STSs were developed for all cosmids, among them 3 polymorphic simple sequence repeats associated with, respectively, the TNFR related protein, CD27, and SCNN1. Regional assignment of the STSs by PCR analysis with somatic cell hybrids and fluorescence in situ hybridization showed that the majority of the loci map to chromosome 12p13, similar to the distribution of the known 12p genes. Evidence was found for the duplication on 12p of a region containing a polymorphic simple sequence repeat and sequences of two different cDNAs.