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Genetics

Genetics is the study of the principles of heredity, or the way an offspring inherits the physical traits and the characteristics of its parents. It is an organism’s genes that control heredity, and they are the determinants of everything from eye color to height to gender to all the other traits that make organisms unique. Specifically genes are passed on to offspring in the form of chromosomes that contain DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which in turn is where the genetic information of both parents is stored. The information within these structures is imperative for the healthy and proper development of the organisms.

Genetics as a science can be traced back to Gregor Mendel, considered by most to be the “Father of Genetics” and from whose name the term “Mendelian genetics” is derived. It was in 1866 that he published his paper on the factors of inheritance in pea plants. Although his focus was on plants, his basic principles were applicable to humans as well, but that fact was not fully appreciated or explored until the 1900’s.

Web Resources On Genetics

Mendel's Genetics
Wikipedia: Genetics

Book Resources On Genetics

Concepts of Genetics by William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings
Genetics: From Genes to Genomes by Leland Hartwell, et al

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