Definition of Haplotype



A haplotype is a set of variations present in the genetic material (DNA) that have the tendency to be inherited together. These variations in the genome are also known as polymorphisms. A haplotype can also be stated as the pattern of linking of the specific alleles as well as molecular markers on a chromosome. All the information regarding these combinations of alleles is collected by the International HapMap Project.

 


The HapMap is used to study the relation of the genetic variations with the diseases. The sites at which the DNA is varied at a single base (A, G, C, U) is known as single nucleotide polymorphisms. These SNPs are inherited in the form of blocks due to the fact that they are located very close to each other and they are not recombination or crossovers.

 

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