Unit motif length and frequency of microsatellites in seven Plasmodium species. Distribution of microsatellites in five species of Plasmodium expressed as percentage of motif length for (a) P. falciparum 3D7, (b) P. vivax SAL-1, (c) P. malariae UG01, (d) P. ovale curtisi GH01, and (e) P. knowlesi STRAIN-H. Trend line indicates logarithmic decline in number of microsatellites with increase in motif length. Histograms associated with each scatter plot represent kernel density estimates for frequency of unit motif type.