Fields of Genetics

Transmission/Classical Genetics

Deals with the heredity and variation.

• Planned Experimental/Cross Breeding

• Pedigree Analysis

Planned Experimental Breeding

Mendel’s Experiments

• Garden pea is ideal for genetic study

• Chose true-breeding/pure breeding which is between homozygous garden peas for his experiments.

• Worked with single-character crosses (Monohybrid cross)

Pisum sativum

Garden Pea

Monohybrid Cross

Single-character Crosses

Sample Pedigree

1st Generation (Grandparents)

2nd Generation (Parents, Aunts, and Uncles)

3rd Generation (Children)

Cytogenetics

Study the genes in the cell particularly in the chromosome.

Provide the chromosomal basis of sex determination.

Explain the distribution of boys and girls in the family.

Karyotyping

Karyogram

Molecular Genetics

Investigate in detail the nature of genetic material, it’s structure, mode of replication, and how it acts to produce the phenotye.

DNA

Genetic Material

Population Genetics

Genetic structure of a population.

Pattern of genetic variation in populations.

Changes in genetic structure through time.

Applied Genetics

Practical applications of Genetics

• Animal husbandry and plant breeding

• Epidemiological Genetics

• Eugenics

• Medicolegal Genetics

• Genetic Counseling

• Genetic Engineering

• Recombinant DNA Technique and Gene Cloning

Animal Husbandry and Plant Breeding

To produce high yielding varieties of food crops like disease-resistant plants and varieties of cows and pigs.

Epidemiological Genetics

For better therapy, management and prevention of recurrence of inherited disease.

Eugenics

Choice of partners for marriage and have an estimate of the likelihood of appearance of desirable trait.

Medicolegal Genetics

To solve legal problems like dispute in paternity and exchange of babies in the hospital nursery.

Genetic Counseling

For deciding abortion and planning responsible parenthood through amniocentesis.

Genetic Engineering

Repair of defective genes.

The process of manually adding new DNA to an organism.

GMO Transgenic Organisms

Plants with resistance to some insects.

Plants that can tolerate herbicides.

Crops with modifies oil content.

Recombinant DNA Techniques and Gene Cloning

DNA fragments are cut out of their normal position in the chromosome using restriction enzymes and then inserted into other chromosomes or DNA molecules using enzymes.

Amelogenesis imperfecta

This condition causes teeth to be unusually small, discolored, pitted or grooved, and prone to rapid wear and breakage.

Cause: Mutation in the AMELX, ENAM, and MMP20 genes.

Treatment: Crowning