Question

The scientists mapping the SNPs in the human genome noticed that groups of SNPs tended to be inherited together, in blocks known as haplotypes, ranging in length from 5,000 to 200,000 base pairs. There are as few as four or five commonly occurring combinations of SNPs per haplotype. Integrating what you’ve learned throughout this chapter and this unit, propose an explanation for this observation.

Short answer

The0.1% difference in the DNA sequence is the reason behind the inherited phenotypic variation in the genome of the human species.

Step-by-step solution

Inheritance

Whenthe generation of one species acquires alleles from its previous generation, they are studied by a biological principle involving genetics (study heredity). This is known as inheritance.

Various inheritance patterns are co-dominant, mitochondrial, autosomal dominant, and autosomal recessive inheritance. Some common examples of inherited characteristics are disease susceptibility, eye color, and hair color.

Haplotype

The linked SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) pattern inherited within a living organism together from their parents and located on the same chromosome is called haplotype or haploid genotype.

The MHC (major histocompatibility complex) comprises the HLA allele. It is an example of a haplotype. Each of the parent individuals provides a single haplotype (pair of DNA variation) to each offspring.

Explanation for observation

SNPs mapping is a methodology performed to map genes or find out the exact location of the gene on a specific chromosome.

This methodology (SNPs or single nucleotide polymorphism) is essential to identify the site where the DNA sequence has variations or SNP variants.

The SNPs (base-pair difference at a specific site in the genome) contribute to the changes in phenotypic traits, such as height, weight, and eye color within organisms like the human population.