FASTSNP allows users to select functional polymorphisms for association studies in a convenient way. The National Genotyping Center (NGC) in Taiwan has been using this system to manage 5000 candidate SNPs and has already obtained their genotyping results using the MALDI-TOF high-throughput genotyping system. One of the most intensely researched topics at NGC is determining candidate genetic variants that contribute to adverse drug responses for different ethnic populations. Discovering major genetic factors that contribute to individual reactions to a certain medication may help to control and prevent side-effects or over dose during therapy, thereby avoiding serious consequences. With FASTSNP, the research team at NGC recently discovered a novel promoter polymorphism associated with the different therapeutic dosage of a drug (34). This polymorphism is predicted to change Ebox-binding site.
