The science which grew out of the union of biochemistry and genetics is widely known as molecular biology.
The term "genetics" is often widely conflated with the notion of genetic engineering, where the DNA of an organism is modified for some kind of practical end, but most research in genetics is aimed at understanding and explaining the effect of genes on phenotypes and in the role of genes in populations (see population genetics and ecological genetics), rather than genetic engineering. A more recent development is the rise of genomics, which attempts the study of large-scale genetic patterns across the genome for (and in principle, all the DNA in) a given species.
The study of inherited features not strictly associated with changes in the DNA sequence is called epigenetics.
Some take the view that life can be defined, in molecular terms, as the set of strategies which RNA polynucleotides have used and continue to use to perpetuate themselves. This definition grows out of work on the origin of life, specifically the RNA world hypothesis.
It wasn't until 1865 that Gregor Mendel first traced inheritance patterns of certain traits in pea plants and showed that they obeyed simple statistical rules. Although not all features show this Mendelian inheritance, his work acted as a proof that application of statistics to inheritance could be highly useful. Since that time many more complex forms of inheritance have been demonstrated.
From his statistical analysis Mendel defined a concept that he described as an allele, which was the fundamental unit of heredity. The term allele as Mendel used it is nearly synonymous with the term gene, whilst the term allele now means a specific variant of a particular gene.
The significance of Mendel's work was not understood until early in the twentieth century, after his death, when his research was re-discovered by other scientists working on similar problems.
Mendel was unaware of the physical nature of the gene. We now know that genetic information is normally carried on DNA. (Certain viruses store their genetic information in RNA). Manipulation of DNA can in turn alter the inheritance and features of various organisms.
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.
1950Erwin Chargaff shows that the four nucleotides are not present in nucleic acids in stable proportions, but that some general rules appear to hold (e.g., that the amount of adenine, A, tends to be equal to that of thymine, T).
Council for Responsible Genetics Working to encourage public understanding and involvement in debates about genetic engineering. http://www.gene-watch.org/
Human Germline Engineering: Best Hope or Worst Fear? FAQs and contrasting viewpoints by over 50 experts in many fields. Organized into 11 topics. Text, audio and video clips. For scientists, educators, students and the general public. http://research.mednet.ucla.edu/pmts/germline
The Center for the Study of Technology and Society - Biotechnology It is a field that brings together agriculture, genetics, cloning, health, medicine and reproductive technology. The Center is a nonprofit research and educational group based in Washington, D.C. http://www.tecsoc.org/biotech/biotech.htm
Judaism and the Human Genome Project Commentary from the Jewish Law (journal) site that deals with questions that Judaism raises in connection with the human genome project http://www.jlaw.com/Commentary/genome.html
Embracing Change with All Four Arms This paper sets out to defend human genetic engineering with a new bioethical approach, post-humanism. http://www.changesurfer.com/Hlth/Genetech.html
Ethical Dangers of Genetic Engineering. What will it be like in a future world where your life started with your parents designing your genes. http://www.greens.org/s-r/20/20-01.html
Ethics of Genetic Engineering: An Annotated Bibliography on genetic engineering ethics. http://www.acusd.edu/~ashleyj/bib.html
Ethics and Genetics - Articles and Papers From the Center for Bioethics. Genetic determinism, gene therapy and ethical concerns. http://www.med.upenn.edu/bioethics/02/GeneticsEthics.shtml
Ethics and Genetic Engineering A Response to the Department of the Environment's Consultation Paper - Genetically Modified Organisms and the Environment http://www.voice.buz.org/genetic_engineering/ethicsandge.html
Humans and Genetic Engineering in the New Millenium Humans and Genetic Engineering in the New Millenium - How are we going to get "Gen-Ethics" just in time? http://www.etiskraad.dk/publikationer/genethics/ren.htm
Genetics and Public Issues Genetics and Public Issues program designs resources to help integrate genetic information, biotechnology and services into society, educating such audiences as policy makers, health professionals, lawyers and judges, and consumers. http://www.csu.edu.au/learning/ncgr/gpi/about_gpi.html
BootStrike.Com - Genetic Engineering Covers the Fundamentals of Genetics and the 3 major genetic engineering technologies, Cloning, DNA and Stem Cells. We also have a glossary you can use. http://www.bootstrike.com/Genetics
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