Our ability to sequence and compare genomes and selected regions from multiple individuals has driven an intense search to uncover genetic variations; both those that make us unique and those that increase our susceptibility to disease.  In this workshop, we will demonstrate how polymorphisms appear when viewed in chromatogram traces from Sanger sequencing, examine the database information associated with a polymorphism in an a gene for metabolizing alcohol, and we will work with superimposed variant and wild-type structures to uncover the effect of this polymorphism on the structure of the enzyme.

 

Computer needs:  Before the workshop, it will be helpful to install FinchTV (available from Geospiza.com, FinchTV) and Cn3D.  If the computer is running either Windows XP, Linux, or is a Mac with OS X, please get Cn3D 4.1 from the NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/CN3D/cn3d.shtml).  If the computer is running VISTA, please get Cn3D 4.2 from the CDTree program, NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Structure/cdtree/cdtree.shtml).