Question 1

What is a single nucleotide polymorphism and why is it important in genetics?

Accepted Answer

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is a variation at a single DNA base that occurs throughout the genome. SNPs are the most common form of genetic variation in humans. While most SNPs do not alter protein structure or gene expression, they can be associated with diseases through linkage to disease-causing variants or by directly causing conditions like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia.

Question 2

How do SNP arrays work to identify genetic variants?

Accepted Answer

SNP arrays use short oligonucleotide probes chemically fixed to a glass slide biochip to identify individual SNPs directly. Hundreds of thousands of SNPs can be tested simultaneously. Isolated genomic DNA is amplified by PCR, fragmented, labeled with fluorescent markers, and hybridized to the chip. After washing away unbound DNA, fluorescent signals at each probe spot indicate the presence of target alleles.

Question 3

What is the difference between allele-specific PCR and TaqMan PCR assays?

Accepted Answer

Allele-specific PCR uses primers designed to hybridize only to perfectly complementary SNP-containing sequences, with detection by fluorescent tags. TaqMan PCR uses SNP-specific probes containing both a fluorescent marker and a quencher molecule. During PCR, the polymerase's 5' exonuclease activity degrades only specifically bound probes, separating the fluorescent tag from the quencher and generating a detectable signal.

Question 4

How do restriction fragment length polymorphism and primer extension assays detect SNPs?

Accepted Answer

Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis exploits restriction endonucleases' specificity, where one allele is cleaved and the other is not, creating different fragment sizes. Primer extension assay uses primers binding one nucleotide short of the target SNP, then variably extends based on the allele present. Both methods generate fragments differentiated by gel electrophoresis, capillary electrophoresis, or mass spectrometry.

Question 5

What are haplotypes and how do they simplify genome-wide association studies?

Accepted Answer

Haplotypes are groups of SNPs in linkage disequilibrium, meaning their variant combinations occur together more frequently than expected by chance, usually due to physical proximity on a chromosome. This allows researchers to differentiate haplotypes by genotyping only a small number of individual SNPs rather than testing all variants, making genome-wide association studies significantly less cost- and labor-intensive.

Question 6

How can SNP genotyping distinguish between species varieties with similar appearances?

Accepted Answer

Genomic DNA is isolated and amplified using PCR primers designed to bind sequences with known SNPs or genetic variants specific to each variety. These primers only amplify DNA containing the specific polymorphism, allowing researchers to distinguish between look-alike varieties. This approach is also used to identify pathogenic bacteria harboring drug-resistance mutations in clinical settings.

Question 7

Why is sequencing becoming increasingly important for SNP genotyping?

Accepted Answer

Sequencing can detect SNPs with high specificity and identify novel SNPs with unknown sequences, capabilities that other methods lack. As sequencing technologies become cheaper and more accessible, researchers increasingly use sequencing for genotyping. However, extra care and additional experimental replicates are necessary to distinguish actual SNPs from sequencing read errors during analysis.

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