Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that may be caused by mutations in several genes that code for the production of alpha-synuclein. Individuals who have Parkinson’s disease exhibit symptoms such as uncontrollable tremors, difficulty walking, and loss of coordination. How might geneticists determine where the mutations that cause Parkinson’s disease are located?

Geneticists can use gene mapping to determine the location of a disease-associated mutation on a chromosome. They compare genetic markers in affected and unaffected individuals to find which region is linked to Parkinson’s disease. PCR can copy DNA segments, while DNA fingerprinting and STR analysis are mainly used to distinguish DNA samples or identify individuals.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.