INTRO TO GENETICS
GENETICS
- It is the scientific study of heredity
(how traits are passed from parents
to offspring as a result of changes in
the DNA sequence)
The fundamental units of heredity:
● Nucleotide bases
● Gene
● DNA
● Chromosomes
4 Major Subdivisions
1. Classical genetics
2. Molecular genetics
3. Population genetics
4. Quantitative genetics
1. Classical genetics
- describes how traits (physical) are
- passed along from one generation to
another
- includes Cytogenetics
- provides the framework in genetic
counseling to interpret people’s
medical histories sometimes referred
to as:
1. Mendelian genetics
2. Transmission genetics
Gregor Mendel
- Father of genetics (original
and old school)
2. Molecular genetics
- the study of the chemical and
physical structures of DNA,
RNA, and its proteins
involves the following:
1. gene expression
2. mutations
3. gene therapy
4. genetic engineering
5. cloning
3. Population genetics
- takes Mendelian genetics
and ramps it up to look at the
genetic makeup of larger
groups
- often mathematical
- helps the genetic signature of
a particular group such as:
- travel
- isolation
- mating choices
- geography and behavior
4. Quantitative genetics
- highly mathematical field that
examines the statistical
relationships between genes
and the traits they encode
- involve characteristics like
the retrieving ability of dogs,
egg size or number in birds,
and running speed in
humans
- Used heavily in agriculture
for plant and animal breeding
