Basics of Genetics

A basic understanding of genetics is becoming more and more important in many different areas, including medicine, law, agriculture, statistics, sociology, psychology, and many others. The sections below are intended to provide a simple introduction to genetics and its application in the world.

• Basic Definitions

• Basic Concepts

  It may be helpful to review some of the basic definitions before reading about the topics listed below.
  

  • What is a Gene?
    • “Genes and DNA”
    • “Genes and Chromosomes”
    • “Dominant and Recessive Genes”
    • “Homozygous vs. Heterozygous”

   

  • The Human Cell

   

  • Mitosis and Meiosis

   

  • Transcription and Translation

   

  • What Causes Genetic Disease?

    • “Single Gene Disorders”

    • “Multifactorial Inheritance”

    • “Chromosomal Abnormalities”

    • “Mitochondrial Disorders”

   

  • Autosomal Dominant Inheritance

   

  • Autosomal Recessive Inheritance

   

  • Sex-Linked Inheritance
    • “X-linked Recessive Inheritance”
    • “X-linked Dominant Inheritance”
    • “Y-linked Inheritance”