Final answer:
A scientist performing an association study between a disease phenotype and SNPs is engaged in a Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS). GWAS helps to identify genetic differences that may contribute to diseases by comparing SNP frequencies in individuals with and without the disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS)
When a scientist tries to find an association between a disease phenotype and certain SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms), the scientist is performing a Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS). GWAS is used to identify genetic variants within individual genomes that may contribute to the development of diseases. This approach compares the frequency of SNPs between groups of individuals with a disease and those without it. The process involves collecting DNA samples, analyzing potentially millions of SNPs using automated systems, and identifying significant differences in SNP frequencies between the two groups.
Identification of disease variants and the prediction of disease risk at the individual level are significant outcomes of GWAS. These studies provide vital data for further research into the molecular pathways of diseases and the development of potential therapies. Moreover, the results of GWAS can also be used in personal genomics services which assess an individual's risk for various diseases based on their SNP complement, although the science behind these services can be controversial.