Genetics | History, Biology, Timeline, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Genetics arose out of the identification of genes, the fundamental units responsible for heredity. Genetics may be defined as the study of genes at all levels, including the ways in which they act in the cell and the ways in which they are transmitted from parents to …
Genetics - DNA, Genetic Code, Mutations | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Genetics - DNA, Genetic Code, Mutations: A major landmark was attained in 1953 when American geneticist and biophysicist James D. Watson and British biophysicists Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins devised a double helix model for DNA structure.
genetics summary | Britannica
genetics, Study of heredity in general and of genes in particular. Modern genetics began in the 19th century with the work of Gregor Mendel, who formulated the basic concepts of heredity. In 1909 the word gene was coined by Wilhelm Johannsen, thus giving genetics its name.
History of science - Evolution, Genetics, Taxonomy | Britannica
Nov 15, 2024 · In the 21st century the revolution in physics spilled over into chemistry and biology and led to hitherto undreamed-of capabilities for the manipulation of atoms and molecules and of cells and their genetic structures.
Genetics - Microbes, DNA, Evolution | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Bacteria became important model organisms in genetic analysis, and many discoveries of general interest in genetics arose from their study. Bacterial genetics is the centre of cloning technology. Viral genetics is another key part of microbial genetics.
DNA | Definition, Discovery, Function, Bases, Facts, & Structure ...
Dec 14, 2024 · DNA, organic chemical of complex molecular structure found in all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. It codes genetic information for the transmission of inherited traits. The structure of DNA was described in 1953, leading to further understanding of DNA replication and hereditary control of cellular activities.
Genetics - Mendel, Heredity, Traits | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Molecular genetics did not begin in earnest until 1941 when American geneticist George Beadle and American biochemist Edward Tatum showed that the genes they were studying in the fungus Neurospora crassa acted by coding for catalytic proteins called enzymes.
Human Genome Project (HGP) | History, Timeline, & Facts
Dec 11, 2024 · Human Genome Project, an international collaboration that determined, stored, and rendered publicly available the sequences of almost all the genetic content of the chromosomes of the human organism, otherwise known as the human genome. Learn more about the history and science behind the Human Genome Project.
Genetics - Breeding, DNA, Traits | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Genetics - Breeding, DNA, Traits: Genetic techniques are used in medicine to diagnose and treat inherited human disorders. Knowledge of a family history of conditions such as cancer or various disorders may indicate a hereditary tendency to develop these afflictions.
Genetics - DNA, Heredity, Variation | Britannica
Dec 19, 2024 · Genetics - DNA, Heredity, Variation: Genetically diverse lines of organisms can be crossed in such a way to produce different combinations of alleles in one line.