What is the main purpose of genome-wide association studies (GWAS)? How can information from GWAS be used to inform scientists and physicians about genetic diseases?

What kind of diseases are studied using genome-wide association studies?

Discuss why a genetic disease might have a particular age of onset. Would an infectious disease have an age of onset? Explain why or why not.

Using sickle cell disease as an example, describe the similarities and differences between the terms genetic disease and molecular disease. How are molecular or genetic diseases different from diseases that are caused by an infectious organism such as a bacterium?

A crossover in meiosis is an exchange of genetic material between

(a) Non-sister chromatids.
(b) Sister chromatids.
(c) Non-homologous chromosomes.
(d) Two different bivalents.

What is a fractal? Explain why measuring a fractal with a shorter ruler leads to a longer measurement.

Yeager, M., et al. and Sladek, R. et al. have used single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify novel risk loci for prostate cancer and Type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. Each study suggests that disease-risk genes can be identified that significantly contribute to the disease state. Given your understanding of such complex diseases, what would you consider as reasonable factors to consider when interpreting the results of GWAS studies?

Which of the following statements about insulin is true? a. Insulin acts as a transport protein, carrying glucose across the cell membrane. b. Insulin facilitates the movement of intracellular glucose transporters to the cell membrane. c. Insulin stimulates the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose. d. Insulin stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb glucose into the bloodstream.

Genes in their natural state cannot be patented. This policy allows the research and use of natural products for the common good. What argument might be presented in favor of patenting genes or gene products?

A voltmeter is (incorrectly) inserted into a circuit as we discussed earlier.
a. What is the current in the circuit?
b. What does the voltmeter read?
c. How would you change the circuit to correctly connect the voltmeter to measure the potential difference across the resistor?

A person who has no antigens present on the red blood cells has blood type (a) AB Rh+ (b) 0 Rh- $(c)$ A Rh+ (d) 0 Rh+.

(a) Describe the role of folate in human physiology: (b) Describe the role of vitamin D in human physiology:

What is bioinformatics?

What limits the use of differences in restriction enzyme sites as a way of detecting point mutations in human genes?