Mutations in the xanthine dehydrogenase gene (XDH), which codes for the last enzyme of the purine catabolic pathway in man, cause the autosomal recessive disease xanthinuria. We obtained cDNA clones from a human breast cDNA library and confirmed one of the two different sequences proposed for human XDH. Using a somatic cell hybrid mapping panel and specific primers for human XDH, we assigned the gene to chromosome 2. By fluorescence in situ hybridization, the gene was localized to bands 2p22.3→p22.2. The FLpter probe location was 0.135 (SD = 0.016), as determined by digital image analysis.