The Blueprint of Life

Genetics is the study of how traits are passed from one generation to the next, all encoded in the language of DNA.

DNA Structure

DNA is a double helix made of four bases: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C), and guanine (G). The sequence of these bases forms genes, instructions for building proteins.

Gene Expression

• Transcription: DNA is copied into messenger RNA (mRNA).
• Translation: mRNA is decoded by ribosomes to make proteins.

Mendelian Inheritance

The basic rules of inheritance were discovered by Gregor Mendel using pea plants. Traits are controlled by alleles, versions of a gene.

• Dominant allele: Expressed if present (e.g., brown eyes).
• Recessive allele: Only expressed if both alleles are recessive (e.g., blue eyes).

Real-World Applications

Genetics helps us understand hereditary diseases, personalized medicine, and even ancestry!