Question

A genome-wide association study helps identify genetic traits by:

a) Analyzing whole genomes to find variations associated with a particular disease or trait.
b) Focusing only on protein-coding regions of the genome.
c) Studying the interactions between genes and the environment.
d) Identifying only rare genetic variants.

Answer 1

A genome-wide association study identifies genetic traits by analyzing whole genomes to find variations, such as SNPs, linked to diseases or traits.

Step-by-step explanation:

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) helps identify genetic traits primarily by a) Analyzing whole genomes to find variations associated with a particular disease or trait. This method looks for differences between individuals in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may be connected to diseases.

GWAS uses data from the International HapMap Project, analyzing groups of SNPs that stay together through recombination, simplifying the identification process. These studies often involve comparing the genetic makeup of people with a certain disease to those without it and identifying SNPs that show a significant difference in frequency between the two groups, which could indicate an increased risk of developing the disease.