Concept in Definition ABC

The term "genetics" comes from the Greek and means "race, generation". It is the field of biology that seeks to investigate and understand the biological inheritance that is transmitted from generation in generation, investigating the characteristics and fundamental aspects in this process from father to son. The main object of study of genetics are genes, made up of segments of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), a molecule that encodes the information that exists in cells. In this way, DNA controls the structure and functioning of each cell, with the ability to create exact copies of itself.

In short, the study of genetics allows us to understand how exactly the reproduction of living beings and how it can be that, for example, between human beings biological, physical, appearance and even physical characteristics are transmitted personality. Therefore, it should be noted that most of the information that "codes" for an individual is contained in DNA; This information involves from very simple processes to much more complex realities.

Thus, genetics (such as discipline biological) is typically subdivided into classical or mendelian, which deals with the study of chromosomes and how they are inherited; the quantitative, which analyzes the impact of multiple small-scale genes on the phenotype; the molecular, which studies the composition and behavior of DNA; of populations or evolutionary, which seeks to analyze the development of genes in a population and the evolution of organisms; and other types. Thanks to this knowledge, it is possible to recognize that certain genes are shared by different animal species, while others are exclusive and specific to certain life forms. Thus, lysozyme is a protein responsible for the elimination of bacteria present in the nasal mucus; its structure is similar in organisms as different as chickens and humans. In contrast, the blood groups of man's closest relatives (the great apes) differ completely from ours.

In turn, the study and discovery of these elements has allowed the development of the genetic engineering. In short, this discipline is in charge of DNA manipulation technology, thus allowing the enhancement or elimination of qualities or aspects of different organisms that contribute to correct genetic effects, manufacture antibiotics and, ultimately, promote even today controversy cloning of living beings. The most paradigmatic case of cloning research was that of Dolly the sheep, known as the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell and which lived for around 7 years. Beyond controversies when it comes to higher mammals, cloning could be a tool interesting, for example, to multiply specimens of cereals or soy resistant to certain inclemencies of weather or pests. However, it is noted that cloning, by reiterating exactly the same genetic code from one individual to the other, makes them deep down more vulnerable, because it reduces the probability of adaptation. On the other hand, conventional reproduction allows the interbreeding of the genetic component of mothers and fathers, for which the new organism that is created is completely different from its ancestors. Therefore, beyond the predisposition of inheritance, its adaptability to the environment and to new situations will be its own and different from that of other congeners. This genetic variability is the great advantage of sexual reproduction and allows species of animals and plants survival, even in the most unfavorable contexts and in the most serious.