Ricki Lewis | Jan 6, 2002 | 7 min read
Single nucleotide polymorphisms--variants in DNA sequences better known as SNPs and pronounced snips--provide a shortcut to comparing genes and genomes within and among species. The need to study SNPs has spawned a number of companies aimed at matching SNP patterns to disease risks. A few other organizations, however, are taking a broader view: mining SNPs for clues to human diversity and evolution. Association studies that correlate SNP patterns to disease risks are straightforward. Clues to