Genetics 101 - Introduction

Learning to Crawl

Welcome to Genetics 101, the nonstop flight to basic knowledge of what makes life. There need not be a fasten-seatbelt sign because you'll be glued to your seat with information about DNA, chromosomes, cells, and other interesting things. Here, you will learn the basics. Genetics is basically the same as the old saying goes, "You cannot walk until you learn to crawl." You can't learn about cloning and genetic engineering before you learn about the basics. Genetics may seem complicated, but when you break it down, it's really quite simple. Our goal in Genetics 101 is to give those with no knowledge of genetics a basic understanding, and to refresh the memory of those who know.

The most understandable way to put it is that genetics is really just the study of heredity. Heredity is, simply, how you inherit traits from your parents. People always are saying things like, "Oh, you have your mother’s smile." We all know that they don’t mean your mother’s choppers are not in her head, but most people don’t quite understand how things, "run in the family." Genetics will help you with that concept, but modern genetics have gotten a lot bigger than just traits from parents.

The discovery of DNA led to many different things. For example, we are now able (sort of) to solve moderately complex (hey, everyone has to start somewhere) computational sequences using DNA. You will learn more about this is the section, "DNA Computing". But, remember that this chapter won’t be talking about DNA computing or inheriting features from your parents. In this chapter, you will find out about the basics. You will learn about the substances that actually allow us to do DNA computations, and even cloning (the exact reproduction of an organism). You can’t walk until you learn to crawl, just as you can’t clone until you know what DNA.

Introduction
Cells to Chromosomes
DNA
RNA
Genetic Cycle