SNP array: Difference between revisions

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An SNP array is a useful tool to study the whole genome. The most important application of SNP array is in determining disease susceptibility and consequently, in pharmacogenomics by measuring the efficacy of drug therapies specifically for the individual. As each individual has many single nucleotide polymorphisms that together create a unique DNA sequence, SNP-based linkage analysis could be performed to map disease loci, and hence determine disease susceptibility genes for an individual. The combination of SNP maps and high density SNP array allows the use of SNPs as the markers for Mendelian diseases with complex traits efficiently. For example, whole-genome genetic linkage analysis shows significant linkage for many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, a common chronic inflammatory disease, prostate cancer, neonatal diabetes. As a result, drugs can be personally designed to efficiently act on a group of individuals or even each individual.
 
In addition, SNP-array can be used for studying the loss of heterozygosity. [[Loss of heterozygosity]] (LOH) is a form of allelic imbalance that can result from the complete loss of an allele or from an increase in copy number of one allele relative to the other. Using high density SNP array to detect LOH allows identification of pattern of allelic imbalance with potential prognostic and diagnostic utilities. This usage of SNP array has a huge potential in cancer diagnostics as LOH is a prominent characteristicscharacteristic of most human cancers.
 
== References ==