Developmental Genetics

Billie Wilson

Apr 2018 · Scientific e-Resources

About this eBook

Developmental Genetics studies how the genes regulate developmental changes in behavior and influence scientific approaches in several fields. Genetics is the study of heredity. Heredity is a biological process where a parent passes certain genes onto their children or offspring. Every child inherits genes from both of their biological parents and these genes in turn express specific traits. Some of these traits may be physical for example hair and eye color and skin color etc. On the other hand some genes may also carry the risk of certain diseases and disorders that may pass on from parents to their offspring. Development is behind what one looks like. It is directed by genes, the units of heredity, which are made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in all animals (including man), plants, microorganisms and most of the viruses except in some viruses where Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) is the genetic material. Developmental Genetics integrates the two disciplines of development and genetics into one. Differential gene expression from genetically identical nuclei creates different cell types. Differential gene expression can occur at the levels of gene transcription, nuclear RNA processing, mRNA translation, and protein modification. Genes are usually repressed. Activation of a gene often means inhibiting its repressor. This leads to thinking in double and triple negatives: Activation is often the inhibition of the inhibitor; repression is the inhibition of the inhibitor of the inhibitor. Besides useful to the students and teachers of the subject the book will also serve as a reference tool to the researchers in genetics developmental biology regenerative medicine and cell biology.