SNPchips

SNPchips, also known as SNP arrays or SNP genotyping arrays, are a type of DNA microarray used in molecular biology and genetics to simultaneously genotype hundreds of thousands or even millions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across an organism's genome. SNPs are single base-pair variations in the DNA sequence that are common in the population. These chips work by hybridizing labeled DNA from a sample, typically obtained from blood or saliva, to a surface containing a vast collection of short DNA probes. Each probe is designed to be complementary to a specific SNP allele. If the sample DNA contains a sequence that perfectly matches a probe, it will bind, and a fluorescent signal is detected. The intensity of the signal at different probe locations allows researchers to determine which allele (e.g., A or G) is present at each SNP site. SNPchips have revolutionized genetic research by enabling high-throughput genotyping, which is crucial for applications such as genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with diseases, pharmacogenomics to understand how an individual's genes affect their response to drugs, and population genetics to study evolutionary relationships.