geeniticsonsidered a field of biology, but it intersects frequently with many of the life sciences and

is strongly linked with the study of information systems.

The father of genetics is Gregor Mendel, a late 19th-century scientist and Augustinian friar. Mendel
studied 'trait inheritance', patterns in the way traits were handed down from parents to offspring. He
observed that organisms (pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This
term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene.
Trait inheritance and molecular inheritance mechanisms of genes are still a primary principle of
genetics in the 21st century, but modern genetics has expanded beyond inheritance to studying the
function and behavior of genes. Gene structure and function, variation, and distribution are studied
within the context of the cell, the organism (e.g. dominance) and within the context of a population.
Genetics has given rise to a number of sub-fields including epigenetics and population genetics.
Organisms studied within the broad field span the domain of life, including bacteria, plants, animals,
and humans.
Genetic processes work in combination with an organism's environment and experiences to
influence development and behavior, often referred to as nature versus nurture. The intra- or extracellular environment of a cell or organism may switch gene transcription on or off. A classic example
is two seeds of genetically identical corn, one placed in a temperate climate and one in an arid
climate. While the average height of the two corn stalks may be genetically determined to be equal,
the one in the arid climate only grows to half the height of the one in the temperate climate, due to
lack of water and nutrients in its environment.

DNA model
The structure of part of a DNA double helix

Deoxyribonucleic acid ( /diksirab.njukle.k sd/; DNA) is a molecule that carries most

of the genetic instructions used in the development, functioning and reproduction of all known
livingorganisms and many viruses. DNA is a nucleic acid; alongside proteins and carbohydrates,
nucleic acids compose the three major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. Most
DNA molecules consist of two biopolymer strands coiled around each other to form a double helix.
The two DNA strands are known as polynucleotides since they are composed of simpler
units called nucleotides.[1] Each nucleotide is composed of a nitrogen-containing nucleobase
either cytosine (C), guanine (G), adenine (A), or thymine (T)as well as a monosaccharide sugar
called deoxyribose and a phosphate group. The nucleotides are joined to one another in a chain
by covalent bonds between the sugar of one nucleotide and the phosphate of the next, resulting in
an alternating sugar-phosphate backbone. According to base pairing rules (A with T, and C with
G), hydrogen bonds bind the nitrogenous bases of the two separate polynucleotide strands to make
double-stranded DNA. The total amount of related DNA base pairs on Earth is estimated at 5.0 x
1037, and weighs 50 billion tonnes.[2] In comparison, the total mass of the biosphere has been
estimated to be as much as 4 TtC (trillion tons of carbon).[3]
i

DNA stores biological information. The DNA backbone is resistant to cleavage, and both strands of
the double-stranded structure store the same biological information. Biological information is
replicated as the two strands are separated. A significant portion of DNA (more than 98% for
humans) is non-coding, meaning that these sections do not serve as patterns for protein sequences.

What Is Colorblindness and the Different Types

The human eye sees by light stimulating the retina (a neuro-membrane lining
the inside back of the eye). The retina is made up of what are called Rods and
Cones. The rods, located in the peripheral retina, give us our night vision, but
can not distinguish color. Cones, located in the center of the retina (called the
macula), are not much good at night but do let us perceive color during
daylight conditions.

The cones, each contain a light sensitive pigment which is sensitive over a range of wavelengths (each visible
color is a different wavelength from approximately 400 to 700 nm). Genes contain the coding instructions for
these pigments, and if the coding instructions are wrong, then the wrong pigments will be produced, and the
cones will be sensitive to different wavelengths of light (resulting in a color deficiency). The colors that we see
are completely dependent on the sensitivity ranges of those pigments.
Many people think anyone labeled as "colorblind" only sees black and white - like watching a black and white
movie or television. This is a big misconception and not true. It is extremely rare to be totally color blind
(monochromasy - complete absence of any color sensation). There are many different types and degrees of
colorblindness - more correctly called color vision deficiencies.

sex-linked gene

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gene
[jn]
one of the biologic units of heredity, self-reproducing, and located at a definite position (locus) on a partic
ular chromosome. Genes make up segments of the complex DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC
ACID (DNA) molecule that controls cellular reproductionand function. There are thousands of genes in the
chromosomes of each cell nucleus; they play an important role in heredity because they control the indivi
dual physical, biochemical, and physiologic traits inherited by offspring from theirparents. Through the ge
netic code of DNA they also control the day-to-day functions and reproduction of all cells in the body. For
example, the genes control the synthesis of structural proteins and also the enzymes that regulate variou
schemical reactions that take place in a cell.