Single nucleotide polymorphisms

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Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (pronunciation: sin-gul noo-klee-o-tide pah-lee-mor-fiz-em, abbreviated as SNPs) are the most common type of Genetic Variation in the human genome. They occur when a single Nucleotide in the genome sequence is altered.

Etymology

The term "Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms" is derived from the fact that these variations involve a change in just one nucleotide. The word "polymorphism" comes from the Greek words "poly" meaning "many" and "morphe" meaning "form", referring to the many forms that a single nucleotide can take.

Related Terms

Overview

SNPs can occur in both coding and non-coding regions of the genome. They can have a wide range of effects on health and disease, including susceptibility to illness, response to drugs, and reaction to environmental factors.

SNPs can be benign, causing no observable effect, or they can be deleterious, leading to diseases such as Cancer or Heart Disease. They can also be beneficial, contributing to traits such as increased immunity or enhanced physical abilities.

See Also

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