Myopia is a common eye affliction that causes light from distant objects to focus in front of, rather than on, the retina, resulting in the eye being unable to focus at a distance. Its increasing prevalence in the world today, particularly in industrialised nations, is a cause for great concern. Studies have shown that sociodemographic risk factors, such as educational attainment and occupations are highest in developed nations. Asian populations in particular appear to be especially prone to developing myopia, suggesting that predisposition to myopia is controlled by both genetic and environmental factors. By using standard PCR techniques, genetic markers can be amplified to be used in polymorphism detection.

Polymorphisms detected in genetic markers of a family of individuals can be correlated to segregation of high-grade autosomal dominant myopia to ascertain that the gene(s) linked to high-grade autosomal dominant myopia lie within the region. Using a range of known genetic markers within the mapped regions for high-grade autosomal dominant myopia, the regions can be further localised. Our findings have shown that it is feasible to use our techniques for the detection of polymorphisms. It is also evident that the autosomal dominant high myopia is present in the large majority of Singaporeans. Instead, a gene conferring myopia to Asian populations is more likely. Further research by our methods could yield a testing kit for detection of linkage to myopia

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