Did you realize that you might have the genes to grow really tall or
have an incredibly high IQ?
But you were starved in nutrients while you were developing in your mother's womb,
or during your formative childhood years,
the expression of those genes could be altered.
We'll discuss how humans have and continue to use what we know about genetics and
biology to manipulate the world around us.
This field of genetics is called biotechnology.
Genetics is the study of heredity, or
how traits are passed on from one generation to the next.
We're gonna talk a lot about vertical gene transfer throughout the semester and
through the process of sexual reproduction.
This occurred when you inherited your genes from your parents, and will occur
when you pass your genes down in vertical fashion to the next generation.
The molecule of all living organisms, including us, that
we use to pass on our genetic information is called DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid.