Learn With Steem: Genetics

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Hello and welcome once again to my blog, I hope you all are having a nice week. In the spirit of learn with steem, I would be sharing with you all a little about genetics.

Genetics

As the name implies, it is a branch of biology that studies the behavior and function of genes, hereditary and genetic variations in organisms. It studies the genesis of organisms.

Brief History

The first persons to study genetics from a scientific point where Gregor Mendel (who proposed the Mendel’s law) and Augustinian Friar in the 19th century. From time immemorial it has been observed by scientists and others that living things inherit and take up certain characteristics from their parents. This has helped improve crops and animals development through selective breeding (-where you choose the traits you want and cross them).

Sub fields

Molecular genetics

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This area of biology and genetics studies the variation among organisms resulting from the differences in expression and structure of DNA molecules. In other words how the DNA molecules is expressed leads to changes (-variations) in organisms (eg- plants, animals, humans etc)

Epigenetics

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This is an interesting aspect of genetics and biology that studies how a person’s environment and behavior creates changes that affect the workings of the gene. This changes are not permanent as they can be reversed. Epigenetic changes has an effect in the expression of genes to turn on and off. For example a smoker has less DNA methylation when the smoker stops, the level of DNA methylation begins to increase back to the normal level (this is an epigenetic change).

Population genetics

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This aspect of genetics studies the gene composition of organisms within a population overtime, from generation to generation. It studies evolution within a population putting into consideration natural selection, mutation, gene flow etc.

Conclusion

Each individual has their own genetic makeup, why we act a certain way or are prone to certain diseases it’s all in the genes.

Thanks for reading.!

Cc;
@focusnow
@ijelady