Genetics: Miracles of the Human Body

Our world is full of beauty. From the brilliant blue beaches to the never-ending green expanse of the Amazon forests, everything we see has a story to tell. Humans too, have their own unique, brilliant features. Now one may wonder: why do we look the way we do? The answer is a complicated one which lies rooted in our history and ancestry and may be simplified using one single word: Genetics. 

Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation & heredity in organisms. It is a vital branch of biology and answers many important questions. It tells us about our hair colour, eye colour, height, skin colour and even gives reasons for occurrences of various diseases, syndromes & mutations.

Gregor Mendel is known as the father of genetics. He conducted crucial experiments with pea plants (1856 - 1863) and proposed the principles of inheritance which are now known as ‘Mendel’s Laws’. His work was initially sidelined and ignored due to his use of mathematics in his research. However, later his work was rediscovered by 3 scientists independently: Hugo de Vries, Carl Correns and Erich von Tschemark.

The main laws of genetics are:

1. Law of Dominance

2. Law of Segregation

3. Law of Independent Assortment

The basis of genetics lies in the concept of alleles. Alleles represent the two different possible forms of a gene. They are generally of two types: dominant and recessive. The one which expresses itself when present with other alleles is known as dominant. The recessive allele is unable to express itself in the presence of the dominant allele. There are certain exceptions to this as seen in examples of Incomplete Dominance and Codominance.

Genetics also explains the occurrence of various syndromes: Down syndrome (caused by trisomy of 21st chromosome), Klinefelter’s Syndrome (caused due to presence of extra X chromosome), etc. It is also a key branch of research as it helps study specific diseases and how to prevent them using tools like gene therapy. Other important applications of genetics include genetic engineering & genetic counselling. Genetic counseling is the process of investigating individuals and families affected by or at risk of genetic disorders to help them understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology.

Hence, genetics, ever since its discovery has been very important and will continue to be important. It has and will help us solve many health issues and will help make the world a much better place. Aside from its extreme usefulness, it is also a very interesting, fascinating branch of science which is full of opportunities!