Genetics

Created: 2023-01-29
Status: #soil
Last Edited: 2023-01-29
Topic: biology

How Do Genetics Work?

Genetics is::: the study of how traits are inherited from parents to offspring. #flashcards/science

It involves understanding how the body's genetic code is passed on from one generation to the next, and how this code determines the characteristics of the individual.

At a basic level, genetics works by examining the DNA molecule that carries genetic instructions from parents to children. Every living organism contains its own unique set of instructions encoded in its DNA, and these instructions determine how it looks, behaves and develops. Through a process known as meiosis, these instructions are transferred from one generation to the next.

In some cases, such as with certain inherited diseases or conditions, a single gene can be responsible for a trait or condition. This type of inheritance is called monogenic inheritance. In other cases, multiple genes may be responsible for a trait or condition. This type of inheritance is called polygenic inheritance.

In addition to understanding how genetics works on an individual level, scientists also study population genetics — which looks at how traits are inherited across larger populations over time — and evolutionary genetics — which studies changes in genes and their effects over time on evolution.