About Genes

UNDERSTANDING GENETICS

What exactly IS genetics?

Genetics is about DIFFERENCES:

Between elephants, hippopotamuses, eucalypt trees, ferns, worms and bacteria.

Genetics is also about SIMILARITIES:

between you and the rest of your family, including your ancestors,

between you and other humans,

and between you and other species.

Genetics is the science of heredity that tries to account for both the similarities and differences between individuals. Genetics can involve the study of:

cells, the tiny building blocks that make up your body

individuals and their offspring

populations in which individuals may share many features, but differ quite markedly from populations of the same species in other areas

Have you noticed that you might look a little like each of your parents, and also very like some of your siblings? This is because many of your characteristics are inherited from your parents, they appear to be handed down from one generation to another. The units of this heredity are called genes. Genes are found on chromosomes inside the nucleus of nearly every cell in your body.

There is some debate as to how much our genes determine characteristics such as personality, behaviour, likes and dislikes, as well as some of our appearance. However, it is generally accepted that our environment also plays a very important role in determining who we are and how we function. Simply put, you are a product of an interaction between your genes and your environment. Both things are important if you are to function normally and maintain your health.

Genes + Environment = YOU!