Myotonic dystrophy is associated with disturbances in the insulin response, possibly due to an abnormality of the insulin receptor. Both the myotonic dystrophy (DM) and insulin receptor (INSR) genes are on chromosome 19. Using a cloned gene probe for INSR, we have studied its linkage relationships with the DM locus and other chromosome 19 markers. The results show that INSR is not closely linked to DM, but is located very close to C3, in the region 19pter-19p13.2. This implies that the basic genetic defect which causes DM is not directly responsible for the disturbed insulin response in these patients.