Genetics

Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. The word genetics was first applied to describe the study of inheritance and the science of variation by English scientist William Bateson in a letter to Adam Sedgewick, dated April 18, 1905.

Related Topics:
Greek - Science - Gene - Heredity - Variation - Organism - William Bateson - Adam Sedgewick - April 18 - 1905

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Humans began applying knowledge of genetics in prehistory with the domestication and breeding of plants and animals. In modern research, genetics provides important tools for the investigation of the function of a particular gene, e.g. analysis of genetic interactions. Within organisms, genetic information generally is carried in chromosomes, where it is represented in the chemical structure of particular DNA molecules.

Related Topics:
Humans - Domestication - Breeding - Genetic interactions - Organism - Chromosome - Chemical structure - DNA - Molecule

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Genes encode the information necessary for synthesizing proteins, which, in turn play a large role in influencing, although, in many instances, do not completely determine, the final phenotype of the organism.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The phrase to code for is often used to mean a gene contains the instructions on how to build a particular protein, as in the gene codes for the protein.

Related Topics:
Gene - Protein

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Note that the "one gene, one protein" concept is now known to be simplistic. For example, a single gene may produce multiple products, depending on how its transcription is regulated.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~