genetics [j-netiks]

the branch of biology dealing with the phenomena of heredity and the laws governing it.

Many pediatric hospital admissions involve genetic disorders. In obstetrics and neonatal medicine, prenatal diagnosis of genetic defects and improvement of pre- and perinatal conditions are a major concern. In adults, such diseases as breast cancer, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus have all been found to have predisposing genetic components that are relevant to identification of risk factors and early diagnosis.

1. The branch of science concerned with the means and consequences of transmission and generation of the components of biologic inheritance.

2. The genetic features and constitution of any single organism or set of organisms.

[G. genesis, origin or production]

biochemical genetics the science concerned with the chemical and physical nature of genes and the mechanism by which they control the development and maintenance of the organism.

clinical genetics the study of genetic factors influencing the occurrence of a pathologic condition.

The branch of biology that deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of hereditary transmission and the variation of inherited traits among similar or related organisms.

[jnetiks]

1 the science that studies the principles and mechanics of heredity, specifically the means by which traits are passed from parents to offspring and the causes of the similarities and differences between related organisms.

1. The branch of science concerned with the means and consequences of transmission and generation of the components of biologic inheritance.

2. The genetic features and constitution of any single organism or set of organisms.

[G. genesis, origin or production]

The study of hereditary traits passed on through the genes.

n branch of scientific study concerned with heredity and the causes of variance between related organisms.

1. Branch of science concerned with means and consequences of transmission and generation of components of biologic inheritance.

2. Genetic features and constitution of any single organism or set of organisms.

[G. genesis, origin or production]

n the science that deals with the origin of the characteristics of an individual.

the science concerned with the chemical and physical nature of genes and the mechanism by which they control the development and maintenance of the organism.

Q. Are there genetic factors involving allergies? My entire family suffers from different allergies. It is clear that there is a connection, is that true?

A. The risk of allergic sensitization and the development of allergies varies with age, with young children most at risk. It is known that there is a strong genetic relation and allergies are usually common among family members. Ethnicity may play a role in some allergies, however racial factors have been difficult to separate from environmental influences and changes due to migration.

Q. Is celiac genetic? I have one son with celiac disease from my first marriage and me second wife is now pregnant,I was wondering what are the chances for this soon to be born daughter of mine to have celiac as well- if I maybe carry the genetic flaw and is there a way to find out?

A. Celiac disease is a very common illness (about 1 in a 100 people suffer from it in different levels), and it is known to have a strong genetic connection. However, there is not one specific mutation that you can get genetic testing to see if you are carrying it. Your soon to be born daughter will have a higher chance than the regular population to suffer from the disease, but it does not necessarily mean she will.

Q. is Bipolar genetic?

A. Bipolar disorder has a very strong genetic background: The approximate lifetime risk of this disease in relatives of a bipolar patient is 40 to 70 percent for a monozygotic (identical) twin and 5 to 10 percent for a first degree relative, compared with 0.5 to 1.5 percent for an unrelated person.

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Genetics | definition of genetics by Medical dictionary

What is a Gene? Look closely at the chromosomes and you'd see that each is made of bundles of looping coils. If you unraveled these coils, you'd have a six-foot long double strand of deoxyribonucleic acid-DNA. A more+ How Do Genes Work? Genes are often called the blueprint for life, because they tell each of your cells what to do and when to do it: be a muscle, make bone, carry nerve signals, and so on. And how do genes orchestrate more+ Why We are Different Biologists use two fancy words to describe the relationship between your genes and your physical traits. The first word is genotype. Your genotype is your genes for a given trait. In most cases, more+ Mutations and Disease DNA is constantly subject to mutations, accidental changes in its code. Mutations can lead to missing or malformed proteins, and that can lead to disease. We all start out our lives with some more+ Genetic Testing Have you ever had your genes tested? Probably not. DNA testing is still pretty limited, although it is becoming more and more common, especially for fetuses and newborns. Many prospective parents, more+ Making Medicines Not long ago, if you were diabetic, the insulin your doctor prescribed would have come from a pig. If you required human growth hormone, it would have come from human cadavers, a source that is more+ New Therapies Many of the worst diseases around are caused by glitches in our genes, and the therapies for these diseases often involve a lifetime of drugs (and their nasty side effects) that help but don't really more+ Ethics The new possibilities created by genetics have brought with them new questions about what is right. An example: genetic testing is, for now, optional. But many medical tests that start out as more+

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About Genetics | Understanding Genetics

Human beings have cells with 46 chromosomes -- 2 chromosomes that determine what sex they are (X and Y chromosomes), and 22 pairs of nonsex (autosomal) chromosomes. Males are "46,XY" and females are "46,XX." The chromosomes are made up of strands of genetic information called DNA. Each chromosome contains sections of DNA called genes, which carry the information needed by your body to make certain proteins.

Each pair of autosomal chromosomes contains one chromosome from the mother and one from the father. Each chromosome in a pair carries basically the same information; that is, each chromosome pair has the same genes. Sometimes there are slight variations of these genes. These variations occur in less than 1% of the DNA sequence. The genes that have these variations are called alleles.

Some of these variations can result in a gene that is abnormal. An abnormal gene may lead to an abnormal protein or an abnormal amount of a normal protein. In a pair of autosomal chromosomes, there are two copies of each gene, one from each parent. If one of these genes is abnormal, the other one may make enough protein so that no disease develops. When this happens, the abnormal gene is called recessive, and the other gene in the pair is called dominant. Recessive genes are said to be inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern.

However, if only one abnormal gene is needed to produce a disease, it leads to a dominant hereditary disorder. In the case of a dominant disorder, if one abnormal gene is inherited from mom or dad, the child will likely show the disease.

A person with one abnormal gene is called heterozygous for that gene. If a child receives an abnormal recessive disease gene from both parents, the child will show the disease and will be homozygous (or compound heterozygous) for that gene.

GENETIC DISORDERS

Almost all diseases have a genetic component. However, the importance of that component varies. Disorders in which genes play an important role (genetic diseases) can be classified as:

A single-gene disorder (also called Mendelian disorder) is caused by a defect in one particular gene. Single gene defects are rare. But since there are about 4,000 known single gene disorders, their combined impact is significant.

Single-gene disorders are characterized by how they are passed down in families. There are six basic patterns of single gene inheritance:

The observed effect of a gene (the appearance of a disorder) is called the phenotype.

In autosomal dominant inheritance, the abnormality or abnormalities usually appear in every generation. Each time an affected woman has a child, that child has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease.

People with one copy of a recessive disease gene are called carriers. Carriers usually don't have symptoms of the disease. But, the gene can often be found by sensitive laboratory tests.

In autosomal recessive inheritance, the parents of an affected individual may not show the disease (they are carriers). On average, the chance that carrier parents could have children who develop the disease is 25% with each pregnancy. Male and female children are equally likely to be affected. For a child to have symptoms of an autosomal recessive disorder, the child must receive the abnormal gene from both parents. Because most recessive disorders are rare, a child is at increased risk of a recessive disease if the parents are related. Related individuals are more likely to have inherited the same rare gene from a common ancestor.

In X-linked recessive inheritance, the chance of getting the disease is much higher in males than females. Since the abnormal gene is carried on the X (female) chromosome, males do not transmit it to their sons (who will receive the Y chromosome from their fathers). However, they do transmit it to their daughters. In females, the presence of one normal X chromosome masks the effects of the X chromosome with the abnormal gene. So, almost all of the daughters of an affected man appear normal, but they are all carriers of the abnormal gene. Each time these daughters bear a son, there is a 50% chance the son will receive the abnormal gene.

In X-linked dominant inheritance, the abnormal gene appears in females even if there is also a normal X chromosome present. Since males pass the Y chromosome to their sons, affected males will not have affected sons. All of their daughters will be affected, however. Sons or daughters of affected females will have a 50% chance of getting the disease.

EXAMPLES OF SINGLE GENE DISORDERS

Autosomal recessive:

X-linked recessive:

Autosomal dominant:

X-linked dominant:

Only a few, rare, disorders are X-linked dominant. One of these is hypophosphatemic rickets, also called vitamin D -resistant rickets.

CHROMOSOMAL DISORDERS

In chromosomal disorders, the defect is due to either an excess or lack of the genes contained in a whole chromosome or chromosome segment.

Chromosomal disorders include:

MULTIFACTORIAL DISORDERS

Many of the most common diseasesare caused byinteractions of several genes and factors in the the environment (for example, illnesses in the mother and medications). These include:

MITOCHONDRIAL DNA-LINKED DISORDERS

Mitochondria are small organisms found in most of the body's cells. They are responsible for energy production inside cells. Mitochondria contain their own private DNA.

In recent years, many disorders have been shown to result from changes (mutations) in mitochondrial DNA. Because mitochondria come only from the female egg, most mitochondrial DNA-related disorders are passed down from the mother.

Mitochondrial DNA-related disorders can appear at any age. They have a wide variety of symptoms and signs. These disorders may cause:

Some other disorders are also known as mitochondrial disorders, but they do not involve mutations in the mitochondrial DNA. These disorders are usually single gene defects and they follow the same pattern of inheritance as other single gene disorders.

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Genetics: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

tour

Learn how traits pass from parents to offspring.

tour

Explore traits, the characteristics that make us unique.

tour

Get to know DNA, the molecule that holds the universal code of life.

tour

Take a look at genes, the instructions for building a body.

tour

Learn how proteins form the foundation for all living things.

tour

These vehicles of inheritance pack a lot of information.

Funding provided by a gift from the R. Harold Burton Foundation.

APA format: Genetic Science Learning Center (2014, June 22) Tour of Basic Genetics. Learn.Genetics. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/ MLA format: Genetic Science Learning Center. "Tour of Basic Genetics." Learn.Genetics 22 October 2015 <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/> Chicago format: Genetic Science Learning Center, "Tour of Basic Genetics," Learn.Genetics, 22 June 2014, <http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/> (22 October 2015)

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Tour of Basic Genetics

The information in genomes provides the instruction set for producing each living organism on the planet. While we have a growing understanding of the basic biochemical functions of many of the individual genes in genomes, understanding the complex processes by which this encoded information is read out to orchestrate production of incredibly diverse cell types and organ functions, and how different species use strikingly similar gene sets to nonetheless produce fantastically diverse organismal morphologies with distinct survival and reproductive strategies, comprise many of the deepest questions in all of science. Moreover, we recognize that inherited or acquired variation in DNA sequence and changes in epigenetic states contribute to the causation of virtually every disease that afflicts our species. Spectacular advances in genetic and genomic analysis now provide the tools to answer these fundamental questions.

Members of the Department of Genetics conduct basic research using genetics and genomics of model organisms (yeast, fruit fly, worm, zebrafish, mouse) and humans to understand fundamental mechanisms of biology and disease. Areas of active investigation include genetic and epigenetic regulation of development, molecular genetics, genomics and cell biology of stem cells, the biochemistry of micro RNA production and their regulation of gene expression, and genetic and genomic analysis of diseases in model systems and humans including cancer, cardiovascular and kidney disease, neurodegeneration and regeneration, and neuropsychiatric disease. Members of the Department have also been at the forefront of technology development in the use of new methods for genetic analysis, including new methods for engineering mutations as well as new methods for production and analysis of large genomic data sets.

The Department sponsors a graduate program leading to the PhD in the areas of molecular genetics and genomics, development, and stem cell biology. Admission to the Graduate Program is through the Combined Programs in Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS).

In addition to these basic science efforts, the Department is also responsible for providing clinical care in Medical Genetics in the Yale New Haven Health System. Clinical genetics services include inpatient consultation and care, general, subspecialty, cancer and prenatal genetics clinics, and clinical laboratories for cytogenetics, DNA diagnostics, and biochemical diagnostics. The Department sponsors a Medical Genetics Residency program leading to certification by the American Board of Medical Genetics. Admission to the Genetics Residency is directly through the Department.

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Home > Genetics | Yale School of Medicine

Research in genetics in this department employs a variety of organisms, ranging in complexity from bacteriophage to humans. Several groups are studying the process of transmission of genes by analyzing DNA replication, DNA repair, chromosome segregation and cell division.

The use of genetics to identify regulatory genes and to define biological mechanisms is a crucial tool in unraveling a myriad of biological problems. Among the processes being investigated via genetics by members of this department are aging, human genetic diseases, human spermatogenesis, cell death, neurobiology, developmental biology, protein processing and secretion, the cytoskeleton and cell architecture, and plant-bacterial communication.

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Genetics | MIT Biology

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Genetics articles: The New England Journal of Medicine

Photos: DNA, ladybug, brown eye, blue eye, PCR, Gregor Mendel, peas: AMNH; Starfish: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K4508; Perch fish: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services PK241; Illustrations: Louis Pappas, Steve Thurston, Eric Hamilton; DNA, nature/nurture: Kelvin Chan Boy at computer: Jim Steck; Fruit fly: courtesy of Flybase

Did you know that DNA carries all the information a cell needs to make you uniquely you? Take a look at the science of where it ALL begins.

Illustrations Steve Gray

Solve genetic riddles as you wind your way through the star-studded park.

Photos: Dr. Ian Wilmut and Dolly; Dolly and her birth mother, courtesy of the Roslin Institute; Illustrations: Clay Meyer

Investigate the how and why of cloning. This Web page helps kids understand cloning and explains some of the ethical issues involved.

Photos: George Barrowclough: courtesy of R.J. Gutierrez; Humpback whales, Howard Rosenbaum: courtesy of Peter J. Ersts, Center for Biodiversity and Conservation, AMNH; Owl: John and Karen Hollingsworth, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Yael Wyner: courtesy of Yael Wyner; Joel Cracraft: courtesy of Joel Cracraft; Sumatran Tiger: courtesy of Jessie Cohen, Smithsonian's National Zoo; Lemur: courtesy of Duke University Primate Center; Daniela Calcagnotto: Courtesy of Daniela Calcagnotto; Pacu: courtesy of Leonard Lovshin, Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquacultures, Auburn University; St. Vincent parrots, Mike Russello: courtesy of Mike Russello; Illustrations: Louis Pappas, Steve Thurston, Eric Hamilton

Travel around the world with museum scientists: from Madagascar to the Western U.S. to the island of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Photos: George Amato, Lab machines: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Caimans: courtesy of Santos Breyer, Crocodilian Photo Gallery; Elephant: courtesy of Jason Lelchuk, AMNH; American Crocodile: courtesy of Julio Caballeros Sigme, Florida Museum of Natural History; Tibetan Antelope: courtesy of George B. Schaller; Products: courtesy of Meg Carlough

Join scientist George Amato on his quest to stop criminals smuggling illegal goods.

All photos: AMNH

Here's a very cool experiment that just might bring a tear to your eye. Use a blender to separate the DNA from an onion.

Illustrations: Daryl Collins

Find out what makes you different from a snail, a tree, or even your best friend!

Photos: Salmon, Florida Panther: courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Ruffed lemur: courtesy of Duke University Primate Center; Congo Gorilla: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 1636; Spotted owl: courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / photo by J&K Hollingsworth; Sumatran tiger: courtesy of Jessie Cohen, Smithsonian's National Zoo; Grevy's zebra: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K10684; Asian Elephant: courtesy of Jason Lelchuk, AMNH; DNA, tongue curling, earlobe, thumb: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Dolly: courtesy of the Roslin Institute; Corn, bananas, dog, bird, eye, flowers, buildings, glacier, human, tomato, cupcake, none: AMNH; Guinea pig: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services PK326; Mars: courtesy of David Crisp and the WFPC2 Science Team (Jet Propulsion Laboratory/California Institute of Technology)/NSSDC and NASA; Dusky Seaside Sparrow: courtesy of P.W. Sykes, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Antelope: courtesy of George B. Schaller; Crocodile: courtesy of Santos Breyer, the Crocodilian Photo Gallery; Sea turtle: courtesy of David Vogel, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Illustrations: Cell, Chromosome, DNA: Stephen Blue; Gene: Kelvin Chan; Mononykus dinosaur: Mick Ellison, AMNH; Woolly Mammoth: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 2431, painting by Charles. R. Knight; Dodo Bird: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 6261, Jean Pretre, from Henri-Marie Ducrotay de Blainville, Nouvelles annales du Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris; Sabre tooth tiger: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 1017; painting by Charles R. Knight

Make your opinion count!

Explore the gene scene with these seven books.

Photos: Rob De Salle: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Illustrations: Daniel Guidera

Step into the future for a look at what cloning might do for you.

Illustrations: Animals: Steve Thurston; Journal Page: Carl Mehling

Want to figure out the wildlife in your area and the impact of genetics? Start a field journal, and track how your favorite critter looks and behaves.

Illustrations: Eric Hamilton

Send a note to a friend with these colorful letterheads.

Photos: Physics Notebook, Questions, Molecular Lab, Dog: AMNH; Narwhal: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services, 26177, Photo by A.S. Rudland and Sons, copied by Thos. Lunt, Feb. 19, 1910 from "The Living Animals of the World," Hutchinson and Co., London; Fruit fly: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 101321; The Genomic Revolution AMNH exhibit pictures: Preparation, DNA Learning Lab, Nature/Nurture wall, Yeast: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Chimpanzee: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K12658 Salmon: courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Find out where Rob has followed his born curiosity.

Photos: Rob DeSalle: Physics Notebook, Questions, Molecular Lab, Dog: AMNH; Narwhal: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services, 26177, Photo by A.S. Rudland and Sons, copied by Thos. Lunt, Feb. 19, 1910 from "The Living Animals of the World," Hutchinson and Co., London; Fruit fly: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 101321; The Genomic Revolution AMNH exhibit pictures: Preparation, DNA Learning Lab, Nature/Nurture wall, Yeast: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Chimpanzee: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K12658 Salmon: courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Kids: All people pictures and drawings: courtesy of subjects; Woolly Mammoth: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services 2431, painting by Charles. R. Knight Cat: courtesy of subject Farm: AMNH

Find out where Rob, Emily, Logan, and Seth have followed their born curiosity.

Illustrations: Wayne Vincent

What's the human genome project and what does it mean to you? Toby, Annie, and Claudia uncovered the answers.

Illustrations: Daryl Collins

The next time you eat a tomato, ask yourself: What would it taste like if there were a bit of flounder in it? Learn how scientists are using genetics to change the food you eat.

Photos: Monarch Butterfly, courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K14898; Grizzly Bear: courtesy of NPS; Sunflower: courtesy of Bruce Fritz, ARS; Chimpanzee: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K12658; African Elephant: courtesy of Miriam Westervelt, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Apple tree: courtesy of Doug Wilson, USDA; Red flour beetle: courtesy of Cereal Research Centre, AAFC; Brown trout: courtesy of Duane River, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Supplies: AMNH; What to Do: (All photos): AMNH; DNA Model, Lady beetle: courtesy of Scott Bauer, ARS Fish, Daisy: AMNH; What You Need illustrations: Stephen Blue

How can you wear a chimp on your wristwithout getting primate elbow? The answer to this riddle is not as tough as it may seem.

Photos: DNA, AMNH; The Genomic Revolution Exhibit: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Gene: AMNH; Dolly: courtesy of the Roslin Institute; Chimpanzee: courtesy of AMNH Department of Library Services K12658

How much do you know about what makes you you? Test your genetics knowledge with this interactive quiz.

Photos: People: courtesy of Denis Finnin, AMNH; Illustrations: Louis Pappas, Steve Thurston, Eric Hamilton; People: Jim Steck Genetics illustrations: Stephen Blue

Zoom inside your cells for a fascinating look at chromosomes, DNA, genes, and more!

Photos: Frozen Tissue Collection: All specimens from the Frozen Tissue Collection, frilled leaf-tailed gecko: AMNH / Denis Finnin cryovat, test tubes: AMNH / Craig Chesek humpback whale: John J. Mosesso / NBII coyote: AMNH; Gold: gold sheet mouflon, miniature sacrificial figurine, Spanish coins: AMNH / Craig Chesek Inca necklace: AMNH / Denis Finnin Eureka Bar: AMNH / Roderick Mickens astronaut in space: NASA computer chip: stock.xchng; Leeches: jaw: Eye of Science / Photo Researchers, Inc. bite mark: Geoff Tompkinson / Photo Researchers, Inc. leech feeding on snail: Edward Hendrycks, reproduce courtesy of the Canadian Museum of Nature leeches before and after blood meal, leeches on foot, American Medicinal Leech, Malagobdella vagans, Mark Siddall in swamp: courtesy of Mark Siddall; Dioramas: AMNH / Roderick Mickens; Mythic Creatures: All photos courtesy of American Museum of Natural History; Vietnam: pygmi loris, Tonkin snub-nosed monkey: Tilo Nadler / Frankfurt Zoological Society Oriental pit viper: Robert W. Murphy / Royal Ontario Museum scientists with camera trap: Kevin Frey / AMNH Center for Biodiversity and Conservation saola: European Commission, Social Forestry and Nature Conservation

Put your viewing skills to the test with this mystery photo challenge.

Tracking a gorilla can get hairy. Literally. Just ask George Amato.

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Ology Genetics - AMNH

Analyzing rabbit pellets wouldn't be the perfect summer job for everyone, but for this sophomore genetics major, it's A-OK. Learn more>>>

Analyzing rabbit pellets wouldnt be the perfect summer job for everyone, but for this sophomore genetics major, its A-OK. Learn More >>> - See more at: http://www.colsa.unh.edu/lab-time#sthash.HfzLeTGf.dpuf

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Genetics

Course Features Course Description

This course discusses the principles of genetics with application to the study of biological function at the level of molecules, cells, and multicellular organisms, including humans. The topics include: structure and function of genes, chromosomes and genomes, biological variation resulting from recombination, mutation, and selection, population genetics, use of genetic methods to analyze protein function, gene regulation and inherited disease.

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Genetics | Biology | MIT OpenCourseWare