Genetics I Introduction I Terms

🌱 Introduction to Genetics:

Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with heredity and variation in organisms. It explains how traits and characteristics are passed from one generation to the next and how genetic information is stored, expressed, and altered.

🧬 Definition of Genetics

Genetics is defined as the scientific study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.

📚 Historical Background

1. Gregor Johann Mendel, known as the Father of Genetics, conducted experiments on pea plants in the 1860s.
2. He discovered fundamental laws of inheritance, now known as:
   • Law of Segregation
   • Law of Independent Assortment
   • Law of Dominance

His work was rediscovered around 1900, laying the foundation for modern genetics.

🧪 Key Terms in Genetics

🧬 Branches of Genetics

1. Classical Genetics – Study of inheritance patterns through observable traits.
2. Molecular Genetics – Focuses on gene structure and function at the molecular level.
3. Population Genetics – Study of genetic variation within populations.
4. Quantitative Genetics – Deals with traits controlled by multiple genes.
5. Genomics – The study of whole genomes, including genes and their functions.

🔁 Basic Principles of Heredity

1. Inheritance Units (Genes) – Genes are inherited in pairs, one from each parent.
2. Dominant and Recessive Alleles – Dominant alleles mask the expression of recessive ones.
3. Segregation – During gamete formation, alleles segregate randomly.
4. Independent Assortment – Genes for different traits assort independently.

🧫 Importance of Genetics

• Helps in understanding diseases and developing medical treatments.
• Important for agriculture – breeding better crops and livestock.
• Aids in forensics through DNA profiling.
• Provides insight into evolutionary biology and human ancestry.

🧠 Modern Applications of Genetics

• Gene Therapy
• CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
• DNA Fingerprinting
• Personalized Medicine
• Genome Sequencing Projects (e.g., Human Genome Project)