Genetic analysis studies genetics and molecular biology, identifying genes and hereditary diseases. Early humans practiced selective breeding, while modern genetic analysis began with Gregor Mendel. Advances include understanding cancer’s link to genetics and DNA sequencing. Other research includes cytogenetics, polymerase chain reaction, and karyotyping. Applications have led to new types of science, such as reverse genetics and gene linkage studies. Legal and social effects of increasing genetic testing are also being studied.
Genetic analysis is the overall process of studying and researching fields of science involving genetics and molecular biology. There are a number of applications developed from this research and these too are considered parts of the process. The basic analysis system revolves around general genetics. Basic studies include the identification of genes and hereditary diseases. This research has been conducted for centuries on both a large-scale physical observational basis and on a more microscopic scale.
Much of the research that laid the foundations for genetic analysis began in prehistoric times. Early humans discovered they could practice selective breeding to improve crops and animals. They also identified inherited traits in humans that have been eliminated over the years.
Modern genetic analysis began in the mid-1800s with research done by Gregor Mendel. Lacking a basic understanding of heredity, Mendel looked at various organisms and found that traits were inherited from parents and that those traits could vary between children. Subsequently, the units within each cell were found to be responsible for these traits. These units are called genes. Each gene is defined by a set of amino acids which create proteins responsible for genetic traits.
Some advances have been made in the fields of genetics and molecular biology through the process of genetic analysis. One of the most widespread advances during the late 20th and early 21st centuries is a greater understanding of cancer’s link to genetics. This research was able to identify the concepts of genetic mutations, fusion genes and changes in DNA copy numbers.
DNA sequencing is essential for genetic analysis applications. This process is used to determine the order of nucleotide bases. Each DNA molecule is made up of adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine, which determine what function the genes will have. This was first discovered in the 1970s.
A variety of other types of research associated with genetic studies. Cytogenetics, the study of chromosomes and their function within cells, helps identify abnormalities. The polymerase chain reaction studies the amplification of DNA. Karyotyping uses a chromosome study system to identify genetic abnormalities and evolutionary changes in the past.
Many of these applications have led to new types of science using the foundations of genetic analysis. Reverse genetics uses methods to determine what is missing in a genetic code or what can be added to change that code. Gene linkage studies analyze the spatial arrangements of genes and chromosomes. There have also been studies to determine the legal and social effects of increasing genetic testing.
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