Dictionary of Genetics

Genetics is the area of biological study concerned with heredity and with the variations between organisms that result from it. It demands an understanding of numerous terms such as DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) a molecule in all cells that contains blueprints for genetic inheritance genes units of information about particular heritable traits which are made from DNA and chromosomes DNA containing bodies located in the cells of most living things that hold most of the organism's genes. The vocabulary of genetics goes far beyond these three terms as we shall see but these are the core concepts. Among the areas in which genetics is applied is forensic sciences or the application of science to matters of law specifically through DNA fingerprinting whereby samples of skin blood semen and other materials can be used to prove or disprove a suspect's innocence. Another fascinating application of genetics is the human genome project an effort whose goals include the location and identification of every gene in the human body. This dictionary includes a vast range of terms and concepts dealing with biochemistry cell and developmental biology immunology hereditary diseases and molecular evolution as well as advances in genomics and proteomics. 272 pp.…