Using SNP Patterns to Link Disease Risk

Genome-wide association studies, or GWAS, look for common SNPs, or single nucleotide polymorphisms, that may be linked to disease. Researchers compare how often a SNP appears in people with a disease and in people without it. When a SNP is seen more often in the disease group, it is considered associated with that disease.

Sometimes, SNPs within a haplotype block can aid in finding a gene responsible for certain diseases - like hemophilia. To track down such genes, researchers can conduct population studies.

For example, genome-wide association studies, or GWAS, are carried out to associate specific genetic variations with a disease.

In this approach...