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Sequence characterized amplified regions (SCARs) were derived from eight random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to disease resistance genes in lettuce. SCARs are PCR-based markers that represent single, genetically defined loci that are identified by PCR amplification of genomic DNA with pairs of specific oligonucleotide primers; they may contain high-copy, dispersed genomic sequences within the amplified region. Amplified RAPD products were cloned and sequenced. The sequence was used to design 24-mer oligonucleotide primers for each end. All pairs of SCAR primers resulted in the amplification of single major bands the same size as the RAPD fragment cloned. Polymorphism was either retained as the presence or absence of amplification of the band or appeared as length polymorphisms that converted dominant RAPD loci into codominant SCAR markers. This study provided information on the molecular basis of RAPD markers. The amplified fragment contained no obvious repeated sequences beyond the primer sequence. Five out of eight pairs of SCAR primers amplified an alternate allele from both parents of the mapping population; therefore, the original RAPD polymorphism was likely due to mismatch at the primer sites.