The first in-depth study of genetics was done by Charles Darwin in the mid 1800s. Since then we have learned, and continue to learn, even more about the fascinating and mysterious world of genetics.
Deoxyribo Nucleic Aced also known as DNA is the basis of the human body. DNA is 500 times thinner than a strand of hair. It is shaped like a twisted ladder called a double helix. The rungs of the ladder are called nucleotides and are classified by letters (A, L, T, G) and each DNA strand is made of many letters. The letters form words, the words form sentences, and these sentences are our genes.
DNA is packed tightly into chromosomes. Each human cell has 46 chromosomes. Unlike humans, mosquitoes have only 6 chromosomes, while carp have 104. We receive 23 chromosomes from each parent, this is called inheritance. There are 8,388,608 possible chromosome combinations from each parent. People also inherit their parent's genes.
Genes tell the cells how to make proteins. Each cell contains thousands of proteins. Specialized proteins work in our hair cells, help us hear, and put the color in our eyes. Another example is the "receptor" proteins that send signals to tell the brain when you are in pain.
Even today we continue to make more and more discoveries about human genetics. In 1990 the U.S. began a 13-year effort called the Human Genome Project or HGP. Some goals of the HGP are to identify all of the 30,000 genes in the human DNA, improve tools for data analysis, and determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical pairs that are in human DNA.
One recent discovery is the ability to duplicate biological material or "cloning." Cloning is when you make an exact genetic copy of something. Scientists often clone a single chromosome or DNA strand so they have more genetic material to study. In 1997, Scottish scientists were the first to successfully clone a mammal.
The advancements in the study of human DNA and the possibility of human cloning have caused some people to question the ethics of genetic study.
The issue of genetics has been around for quite sometime. ... Genetics in the 21st century will be what antibiotics have been to our age. ... First of all, genetics are moving very fast. ... Genetics is surely the highest feat ever accomplished by our human brain. ... Genetics could do a lot of good, but it could do a lot of bad....
Theory of Applied Genetics A scientific discovery that was made many years ago is what we call the theory of applied genetics. Genetics is the study of patterns of inheritance of specific traits. ... By understanding just the basic units of genetics, we are now able to see more in depth the more complicated structures of applied genetics. ... Studying for applied genetics through all these years, we begin to undertake the understanding of genetics. ... Applied genetics are the key to life. ...
Genetics is the study of genes. ... When a couple has children the child will receive a mixture of genetics from both the mother and father. ... Genetics is a branch off of biology. ... Genetics also tries to find how offspring differ from their parents which is called the study of variation. As scientists learned more about genetics, they began to pay attention to bacteria and other microorganisms. ...
Genetics is a powerful field of science, with many possibilities. ... The actual study of genetics started long ago, with Mendel and his studies. Now scientists know much more of genetics and DNA. ... The Austrian Monk Gregor Mendel discovered the basics of genetics. ... Mendel's ideas were expanded upon and refined, and they laid the groundwork for modern genetics. ...
Genetics is slowly paving the road to this utopian vision. Genetics gives us the ability to manipulate DNA, Clone human beings, in short it gives us the power to be Gods. ... We now arrive at another part of Genetics, one that is filled with fear and controversy because it is plagued with science-fiction nightmares and a lack of understanding, Genetic Engineering. ... Some people believe that all of these advances in Genetics will result in child birth as nothing more than something that resembles a factory, creating customized children for your every need. ... This is what I believe the futu...
The following information about genetics in general, new genetic technologies, and how we improve the species with this technology should give you a good idea about why this is so important. One of the biggest problems people have with genetics is the assumption that a defined trait - size, ear type, color, yappiness - is due to a single gene. ... Genetic technologies will help increase the information we already know about genetics in canines. ... A final technology that can be used in dog genetics is the dog I.Q. test. ... Technologies like this will continue to help the knowlegde an...
The point of the project is for scientists to have a better understanding of how genetics contribute to human disease. ... Therefore, genetics should be treated the same way as AIDS, if one receives an AIDS pamphlet, one should receive a genetics pamphlet. ... Blood can also be tested to check for genetics. ...
Certain advances in the field of genetics have sparked controversy. Genetics offers a wide range of opportunities for people. ... There are many ethical dilemmas inherent in human genetics; some are clearly unique to behavioral genetics. Some professionals have suggested slowing the pace of research, specifically in the field of behavioral genetics, until the ethical issues are resolved. ... The dynamism in research and ethics must be appreciated, as well as the basic nature of the relationship between professionals in genetics and the people who rely on geneticists for information and help. ...
In order to this, certain evidence such as the field of behavioral genetics, studies of frontal lobe brain damage, and Eysenck's well accredited theory are required to be reviewed and evaluated. The first point that needs to be addressed is the field of behaviour genetics. Behavioral geneticists study the inheritance of behavioral characteristics by combining the fields of psychology and genetics. ... Following on then from the way in which frontal lobe damage affects personality, lets now take a look in the way genetics has an influence on abnormal behaviour. ... Evidence such as ...
