SNP

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Single-nucleotide polymorphisms, also known as SNP's (prounced 'snip') is a type of genetic variation that occurs within a population of an organism. 


When a nucleotide pair differs, within a population, at a particular site on the DNA this is known as SNP. An example of this is if at a particular nucleotide site some DNA molecules have a T-A base pair. However in the same population, other DNA molecules might have a G-C base pair at the same nucleotide site.[1] This is an SNP. 

One large fraction of the human population could have one nucleotide, while another large fraction has another. Two human genomes sampled at random can differ at approximately 2.5 x10^6 sites (1 per 1300 nucelotides)[2]


References

  1. ↑ HARTL AND JONES,2009:62, GENETICS : ANALYSIS OF GENES AND GENOMES SEVENTH EDITION.
  2. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 5th ed, Alberts et al, p:464