Basic Genetic Concepts &
Terms
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Genetics: what is it?
• What is genetics?
• “Genetics is the study of heredity, the process in which a parent passes
certain genes onto their children.”
([Link]
• What does that mean?
• Children inherit their biological parents’ genes that express specific traits,
such as some physical characteristics, natural talents, and genetic
disorders.
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Word Match Activity
Match the genetic terms to their corresponding
parts of the illustration.
• base pair
• cell
• chromosome
• DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
• double helix*
• genes
• nucleus
Illustration Source: Talking Glossary of Genetic
Terms [Link]
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nucleus chromosome
Word Match Activity
• base pair
• cell
cell
• chromosome
• DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic
Acid)
• double helix*
• genes base pair
(double
• nucleus helix)
DNA
Illustration Source: Talking Glossary of
Genetic Terms genes
[Link]
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DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA)
• Deoxyribonucleic acid (abbreviated DNA) is the molecule that
carries genetic information for the development and functioning of
an organism. DNA is made of two linked strands that wind around
each other to resemble a twisted ladder — a shape known as a
double helix. Each strand has a backbone made of alternating
sugar (deoxyribose) and phosphate groups. Attached to each
sugar is one of four bases: adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G)
or thymine (T). The two strands are connected by chemical bonds
between the bases: adenine bonds with thymine, and cytosine
bonds with guanine. The sequence of the bases along DNA’s
backbone encodes biological information, such as the
instructions for making a protein or RNA molecule
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Genetic
Concepts
Genetic
Terms
Mendelian Inheritance
The inherited traits A trait may not be
are determined by A child inherits two observable, but its
genes that are passed sets of genes—one gene can be passed
from parents to from each parent. to the next
children. generation.
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Mendelian Inheritance
Each person has 2 copies of every gene—one copy from mom and a
second copy from dad. These copies may come in different variations,
known as alleles, that express different traits.
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For example, 2 alleles in the gene for freckles are inherited from mom and
dad:
– allele from mom = has freckles (F)
– allele from dad = no freckles (f)
– child has the inherited gene pair of alleles, Ff (F allele from mom
and f allele from dad).
The role of genetics in health and medicine
• Genetic disorders: Diseases caused by a defect in a gene or
chromosome.
• Genetic testing: Used to identify inherited disorders and to
diagnose and manage disease.
• Personalized medicine: Tailoring medical treatments to an
individual's genetic makeup.
• A relevant image: Icons representing genetic testing and medical
treatment
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The role of genetics in identity
• Ancestry and population genetics: How genetic variation can be
used to trace a person's ancestry.
• Behavioral genetics: The study of how genes influence human
behavior, cognition, and personality.
• Individuality: Explaining that while genes are 99.9% identical
between people, the small differences account for our
uniqueness.
• A relevant image: A diagram showing ancestral migration
patterns.
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Modern applications and future
implications
• Genetic engineering: The modification of an organism's genetic
material.
• Gene therapy: A technique used to fix a genetic problem at its
source.
• Ethical considerations: Discussing the moral and societal
implications of advanced genetic technology.
• A relevant image: A visual metaphor representing advanced
genetics or biotechnology.
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